Rockingham Community College News Release • February 19, 2024 • G. Hunt, Director of Public Information
WENTWORTH – An associate degree in 911 Communications and Operations has become simpler for Rockingham Community College students, following a partnership with Richmond Community College.
Students will complete most of their general education requirements at RCC, and take most of the core courses and work-based learning through RichmondCC’s online degree program.
RCC President Dr. Mark O. Kinlaw and RichmondCC President Dr. Dale McInnis signed an agreement on Feb. 19.
Kinlaw said programs like this open doors for more students.
“That’s why we are here, for our students and the opportunities we provide, and it helps to fill very important positions in our state and in this area,” he said.
Rockingham County Emergency Services Director Rodney Cates said the local 911 Center has 28 staff members.
“Every emergency call is routed to us. We dispatch for the entire county – that’s six law enforcement agencies, nine ambulances during the day and seven at night, three rescue squads, and 24 fire departments,” Cates said. “We answered 157,502 calls last year and dispatched 133,897 calls for service.”
N.C. Rep. Reece Pyrtle recalled joining the police force and being assigned to dispatch first.
“It made me more rounded as an officer,” he said.
Pyrtle also recalled the first time he gave CPR. “It was just me and the dispatcher on the radio in that room,” he said. The dispatcher kept talking to him, and let him know help was on the way. Another time, he took a wrong turn heading to a call.
“But the dispatcher knew exactly where I was, and told me to slow down because there was a sharp curve up ahead,” he said. “Dispatchers are the backbone [of emergency services], but they are unnoticed. They are vital to each event that takes place.”
Later on, as Eden Police Chief, Pyrtle worked with his counterparts and others across the county to build the current state-of-the-art 911 Center.
McInnis said the N.C. 911 Board approached RichmondCC about establishing a college curriculum program to train dispatchers a few years ago.
“They said they wanted to professionalize this career so folks are better prepared to save lives,” he said.
McInnis said it needed to be as stand-alone program, and not folded into another Emergency Services program. Research found just one other two-year college in the country that offered an associate degree, in New York – but even that wasn’t quite what RichmondCC had in mind.
The other idea was to take a regional approach so North Carolina’s community colleges could combine resources and avoid duplication.
“We don’t need small programs competing for the same students and the same dollars,” McInnis said.
“This will save time, save money, and students will come out with a credential that matters,” he said.
RichmondCC currently has 52 students from across the state in the associate degree program.
Kevin Parsons, vice president for Instruction at RichmondCC, aims for 100 students.
“Twenty-five percent of the program has to be taken through Richmond Community College,” he said. The other 75 percent can be taken at a student’s local community college.
Dr. Jeff Cox, president of the N.C. Community College System, said the System Office looks at job needs in prosperity zones across the state, and go to legislators with proposed new training centers.
N.C. Senate Pro Tempore Phil Berger scrapped his speech when he arrived for the signing ceremony, after seeing banners of the two colleges that touted their founding dates: RCC in 1963 and RichmondCC in 1964.
“There have been changes since community colleges were started. It made sense to have 58 separate colleges; today’s North Carolina requires a true community college system,” Berger said. “This agreement represents what I think is the future of our community colleges. It is critical to have a vibrant and effective community college system.”
Rockingham Community College is now registering students for the summer term. Fall registration will open on April 10, but applications are being accepted now. For more information, visit www.RockinghamCC.edu or call 336-342-4261 ext. 2333.
On hand for a Feb. 19 signing ceremony between Rockingham Community College and Richmond Community College for a 911 Communications and Operations associate degree were, from left, Business Technologies and Public Services Dean Dr. Miriam Huntley, 911 Communications & Operations Program Coordinator Jamison Sears, and Vice President for Instruction Kevin Parsons, all of Richmond Community College; N.C. Sen. Phil Berger; N.C. Rep. Reece Pyrtle; Richmond Community College President Dr. Dale McInnis; President Dr. Mark Kinlaw and Vice President for Academic Affairs Sheila Regan, both of Rockingham Community College; Rockingham County Emergency Services Director Rodney Cates; and N.C. Community College System President Dr. Jeff Cox. Photo by Gerri Hunt/Rockingham Community College
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