RCCC cuts agricultural biotech program, adds emergency preparedness technology
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 26, 2012
By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – The Rowan-Cabarrus Community College board of trustees voted Monday to eliminate the agricultural biotechnology program and create a new emergency preparedness technology track.
Paul Brown, chairman of the academic and student engagement committee, said the agricultural biotech program has been stagnant for several years due to lack of available jobs.
“Thus far, we have not offered courses for degree completion based on lack of industry,” he said. “If industry demand and the current economic climate changes in favor of offering the program, it can easily be reinstated.”
Brown said the State Board of Community Colleges recommends terminating inactive programs.
The college will continue to offer an associate’s degree program in biotechnology at the more than 62,000 square-foot biotechnology facility at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.
Brown also made the recommendation to add the associate of applied science degree in a emergency preparedness technology.
“Students will learn how to prepare for and manage a variety of emergency situations, including natural disasters, chemical spills and mass causality incidents,” he said. “These graduates would be in high demand.”
The program, which will help students hone their communication, decision-making, problem-solving and planning skills, will launch in fall of 2013, pending state approval and accreditation. They will also learn about local, state and federal regulations and develop emergency plans.
“Being prepared for emergency situations is becoming exceedingly more important in our world,” said Kimberly Boling, the program’s developer. “It’s critical to be ready for both natural disaster and manmade situations that are evolving faster than technology.”
College President Dr. Carol Spalding said developing new programs is part of the school’s vision.
“It’s vital that we have the resources to keep our programs current or develop new ones to address our local work force needs,” she said.