Program offers other approaches to a degree

Ralph Williams thought attending a university would be impossible. Now, he has a second chance.

Craven Community College last week unveiled a partnership with East Carolina and North Carolina State universities that brings 17 bachelor’s degree programs to local students through online courses and classroom instruction at CCC’s Havelock campus.

“This means I can go to a university, which is what I really want to do,” said Williams. “I’ve always wanted to, but I didn’t apply myself in high school with the SATs and everything. It’s giving me a second chance.”

Craven’s University Connections program will allow students to enroll in university courses after completing required prerequisites to earn their associate’s degrees, and six of the 17 dual degree programs can be completed entirely online.

College leaders said additional programs may be added as demand increases. Of the initial 17, most are offered through East Carolina University, including general business, communication, health information management and four industrial technology programs.

“I’m more of a home-based person,” said Williams, a second-year student in CCC’s Institute of Aeronautical Technology who works in the manufacturing shop at Fleet Readiness Center East. “I wanted to stay here, I can make money here at Cherry Point with my job and still continue my classes. I think that’s awesome.”

University Connections represents a strengthened link between the N.C. Community College System and University of North Carolina system, which officials praised at a Thursday news conference as a boon to community college students.

“We’re excited that today, two great institutions of higher education that have served North Carolina and eastern North Carolina well are providing an excellent opportunity for students to advance their careers here in the east,” said Martin Lancaster, president of the state community college system.

Lancaster said the collaboration between colleges would help train civilian and military aircraft maintenance specialists, helping the region preserve and build Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.

Headquartered in the Havelock campus’ Institute of Aeronautical Technology, the University Connections office will house representatives from ECU and N.C. State to assist with student advising.

Scott Ralls, CCC president, expressed pride that Craven is a leader in dual-degree programs that may be duplicated elsewhere in North Carolina as the community college and university systems work closely together.

He explained that an unofficial motto of community colleges is “take people where they are as far as they can go.”

“This changes everything just a little bit, because ‘as far as they can go’ means something different in this county,” Ralls said. “It’s important, because everyone is not in a place in their lives where they can go to a university.”

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

For more information about Craven Community College’s University Connections program, contact Suzanne Kaylor at 638-7329 or kaylors@cravencc.edu.