By: Thomas Sherrill, The News Reporter

A major upgrade to broadband and internet WiFi is coming to Southeastern Community College by the end of 2020, Vice President of Administrative Services Dan Figler told the board of trustees Monday night. Figler described the improvements as one of the fastest processes he had seen in his 20 years of higher education.

The $427,800 project is part of the N.C. Community College System’s effort to support 20 rural community colleges, including SCC. The funds come from the COVID-19 Recovery Act. Most of the funds will go to fiber and cabling, with the rest going to refreshing equipment and a security assessment.

The project is in conjunction with MCNC, the Friday Institute and the N.C. Department of Information Technology.

Figler said the college will see WiFi spots increase from 85 to 115, including access points in more parking lots and at the baseball and softball fields. Previously, SCC did not have dedicated outdoor access points.

Columbus Career and College Academy agreement

Columbus County Schools will now pay a flat fee of $7,500 a semester to cover the cost of all Columbus Career and College Academy students, as reported to the BOT by Vice President for Student Services Sylvia Cox.

The flat fee was determined to work better after SCC discussed the matter with the county schools, Figler said.

The memorandum of understanding, which goes through the 2022-23 school year, will “enable students to concurrently obtain a high school diploma and begin or complete an associate degree program, master a certificate or vocational program or earn up to two years of college credit within five years.”

Figler said the new agreement “takes the burden off parents in the school system.” Since 2017 the college assessed fees per student enrolled in its courses. Materials, such as textbooks, were sold at a 10% markup to CCS. That markup was raised to 20% at the BOT’s July meeting, but, after hearing blowback from the markup, the board did away with the markup altogether in September.

In 2017 and prior, Figler said, the flat fee was $5,000 per semester before the per-student payment model was adopted.

The agreement lets CCCA students have access to all SCC activities, Cox confirmed.

In other project updates:

new fencing will be installed to enclose buildings B and M to create a technical training center. The cost will be around $50,000. Renovations to the childcare playground will cost $98,090.
the process of developing a 10-year facilities capital assessment master plan, which has been discussed but tabled in the past, will be moving forward. Figler said the current plan is to have requests for proposals in summer 2021 and have presentations to the BOT in July.
English said the college is “doing the final push” to get ready for the reaccreditation review with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. English said the review is due March 1.
The trustees’ bylaws were revised to establish a curriculum committee, which will consist of four members and meet as needed to make curriculum-based recommendations.
Cox is slated to present the possibility of reviving the Rams Club in the board’s January meeting. The college’s booster club went defunct at least six years ago, but Cox explained that she’s heard from community discussions and the parents of players that they would like to revive the organization.
The BOT’s January meeting date was pushed back two weeks to Jan. 25, 2021. The request comes as English said the staff won’t have all the information needed by the regular meeting date.