Piedmont Community College

This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (August 2011)

This article's references may not meet Wikipedia's guidelines for reliable sources. Please help by checking whether the references meet the criteria for reliable sources. (August 2011)

Piedmont Community College (PCC) is a multi-campus two-year post-secondary institution in Person and Caswell counties in North Carolina. It serves approximately 60,000 residents in the rural area, and is one of fifty-eight schools in the North Carolina Community College System.

Current student enrollment is estimated at 2,850.

Academics

The college awards associates degrees, diplomas, and certificates in thirty-five curriculum areas. Also, college-university transfer programs leading to bachelors' degrees at four-year institutions. It also offers Early College programs to high school students via the Huskins Bill, part of the Person County Public School System.

The college is located forty miles north of Research Triangle Park, and makes available positions with the business located there. It serves as an anchor for economic development in the area, providing educational resources for specialized industrial training.

Piedmont Community College is one of only seven of North Carolina’s community colleges to have met or exceeded all 12 key performance measures set by the North Carolina Community College System for the 2005-2006 academic year, giving it recognition as a “superior college.”

The College has also earned other accolades, ranking 11th in the state in offering distance learning classes and fourth in the awarding of Career Readiness Certificates, while the College is 30th in overall size out of the state’s 58 community colleges.

History

In 1970, progressive minded citizens in Person County recognized the need for a local institution to offer further job training and educational opportunities for high school graduates and other adults. A Board of Trustees was appointed to begin the operation of the Person County Technical Institute operating under the North Carolina State Board of Education and the Department of Community Colleges. The institution began operation on July 1, 1970, with the first full‑time students enrolling on September 23, 1970. During a general election in November 1970, the citizens of Person County approved a referendum authorizing local financial support and gave their endorsement of a charter to be issued to Person Technical Institute. In May 1971, the Board of Trustees and the State Board of Education concurred in changing the name of the institution to Piedmont Technical Institute. The Board of Trustees, in July 1974, requested that the Person County Commissioners authorize the holding of an election to authorize a $2.5 million bond issue. In November 1974, the voters of Person County showed overwhelming support for the bond issue. The facility was built and the institution moved to the new campus in November 1977. The campus was formally dedicated on June 4, 1978. The Board of Trustees, in September 1979, unanimously approved changing the name from Piedmont Technical Institute to Piedmont Technical College. The Person County Board of Commissioners concurred with the Board’s decision and the name of Piedmont Technical College became effective October 1, 1979. Effective July 1, 1985, Piedmont Technical College was additionally designated by the North Carolina General Assembly as the service provider for Caswell County. The Board of Trustees, in September 1987, unanimously approved changing the name from Piedmont Technical College to Piedmont Community College. The Person and Caswell County Boards of Commissioners concurred with the Board’s decision and the name change became effective on January 1, 1988. A model of cooperation has been developed among the College, the Person and Caswell County Boards of Education and the Person and Caswell County Boards of Commissioners. This model enhances the capability of the college to provide postsecondary education, job training and training opportunities to new and expanding industries in Person and Caswell counties.

The initial building on the Caswell County Campus was constructed on property provided by the Caswell County Board of Commissioners after funds were allocated through special appropriations from the North Carolina General Assembly. As a result of a positive vote of the citizens of North Carolina in November 1993, additions to both the Person County and Caswell County Campuses were approved for construction by the Board of Trustees during the 1995-97 period. The Adult Learning Center addition to the Caswell County Campus was occupied in 1997, while the new Classroom/Faculty Office Building on the Person County Campus was occupied in 1998. Piedmont Community College, along with all community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System, converted from the quarter system to the semester system of instruction starting in the Fall of 1997.

Campuses

Main Campus

The main campus is located at 1715 College Drive, in Roxboro near Northern Middle School. It consists of 13 buildings, most of which contain classrooms and faculty offices. Other buildings include Student Services, Bookstore, Learning Resource Center, and a Child Care Facility.

Business Development & Entrepreneurship Center

The business development center is located in uptown Roxboro. It provides business counseling and shared services for businesses in the early stages of development.

Caswell Campus

The Caswell campus is located at 331 Piedmont Drive, in Yanceyville off NC 62.

Presidents

• Dr. Craven H. Sumerell, 1970–1973
• Dr. Edward W. Cox, 1973–1987
• Dr. H. James Owen, 1987 - June 2009
• Dr. Walter C. Bartlett, July 2009 – present

External links

• Piedmont Community College
• Business Development & Entrepreneurship Center

Coordinates: 36°25′55″N 78°58′50″W / 36.4318419°N 78.9804339°W / 36.4318419; -78.9804339