The Wilkes Community College Board of Trustees met virtually on Thursday, June 24, 2020. The business session began with the approval of the minutes from the April 9, 2020 Board of Trustees meeting.

North Carolina Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey addressed trustees and attendees at the meeting. Mr. Causey has made it a priority to visit fire departments and insurance agents in all 100 counties of North Carolina. As a result of these visits, the Commissioner makes recommendations as to how the N.C. Department of Insurance and Office of State Fire Marshal can better serve residents and consumers of North Carolina. Mr. Causey also spoke of his experience as an attendee and graduate of Wake Technical Community College where he earned an associate degree in civil engineering and technology. He emphasized the importance of Community Colleges and how students benefit from the education provided through them.

Program and Planning Committees

The WCC Board of Trustees approved the following new curriculum programs, and Career and College Promise (CCP) pathways, as required to apply for approval from the NC Community College State Board:

  • Associate in Arts in Teacher Preparation (AATP) Degree (A1010T)
  • Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation (ASTP) Degree (A1040T)
  • Career and College Promise College Transfer Pathway Leading to the Associate in Arts inCareer and College Promise College Transfer Pathway Leading to the Associate in Science in Teacher Preparation (P1042T)
  • Teacher Preparation (P1012T)

Personnel Committee

The board approved a new policy, Parental Leave, effective 07/01/2020. In the new policy WCC will provide Paid Parental Leave to enable full-time employees to care for and bond with a newborn or child under the age of eighteen (18) newly-placed for adoption, foster, or other legal placement. This policy will be in effect for births or adoptive, foster, or other legal placements occurring on or after July 1, 2020.

College President’s Report

Dr. Cox spoke about the passing of trustee Sylvia Robinson and her service on the board and allowed trustees to speak as well. Ms. Robinson’s family will be joining the next Board of Trustee meeting that is held face-to-face where she will be recognized for her tremendous service and dedication as a trustee to WCC.

Dr. Cox gave an update on how the college has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what is planned for summer and fall semesters. Information will be posted to the college website once final plans are confirmed.

Dr. Cox introduced the new VP of Instruction, Yolanda Wilson, who will officially join WCC on July 1, 2020. Dr. Wilson comes to WCC from York Technical College in South Carolina where she served as the associate vice president of the Business, Computers, Arts, and Sciences Division and the dean of the Learning Commons. Dr. Wilson has worked in North Carolina and South Carolina Community College Systems for over 20 years. Her expertise and knowledge will be of great benefit to WCC.

Dr. Cox recognized WCC’s student and employee winners of the 54th Annual National Career Development Association’s (NCDA) Poetry and Art Contest. All four of WCC’s winners placed in the state contest before proceeding to the nationals. Adrian Guerrero won 1st place nationally in the Mixed Media Art Category and Jayme Martin won 2nd place nationally. Both students were enrolled in Amber Arnder’s Computer Design Basics course during the fall semester. Sabrina Bowman, WCC student activities coordinator, won 1st place nationally in the Adult Open Mixed Media Art Category, and Sonya Jordan, CNA instructor, won 1st place nationally in the Adult Open Poetry Category. Their artwork and prose are featured on the NCDA website at https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth.

Dr. Cox recognized Mary Elizabeth Hannewald as the 2020 Dallas Herring Achievement Award recipient. Hannewald completed the Radiography program in May 2020. The Dallas Herring Achievement Award was established by the North Carolina Community College System in 2010 to honor the late Dr. Dallas Herring, one of the state’s earliest advocates of community colleges. The award is bestowed annually upon a current or former student who best embodies Dr. Herring’s philosophy of “taking people where they are and carrying them as far as they can go.”

The WCC Board of Trustees will meet again on August 6, 2020.