WCC named finalist for American Association of Community Colleges 2018 Awards of Excellence
By From staff reports
Published in News on March 21, 2018 5:50 AM
Wayne Community College has been named a finalist for the American Association of Community Colleges 2018 Awards of Excellence, in the "student success" category.
WCC is one of six community colleges, the only one from North Carolina, up for the award which recognizes promising practices among the nation's two-year colleges.
Dr. Gene Smith, vice president for academic and student services, called it an honor to be recognized and named a finalist for the award.
"Wayne Community College's focus is student success," he said.
"Our faculty and staff strive every day to provide opportunities so that students can achieve their educational goals."
The student success initiative includes such strategies as guided pathways for programs of study with limited course options and reduced numbers of required hours.
The objective is to eliminate redundant learning outcomes -- the skills and knowledge students acquire through a course --- and courses that duplicate those outcomes.
Another technique the college is employing is automatically enrolling students in courses within their degree plans that lead to certificates and diplomas.
This motivates students because they earn "stackable credentials" while working toward their ultimate goal of a degree.
Over the last five academic years, the number of certificates, diplomas and associate degrees earned by WCC students has increased by 30.4 percent and duplicated credentials increased by more than half, officials said.
During the same time period, the college's enrollment decreased by 16 percent.
The finalists will be recognized and winners announced during the 98th Annual AACC Convention, held in Dallas, Texas from April 28 through May 1.
The winning college will receive a trophy and a mention in the "Community College Daily."