Randolph Community College Goes Tobacco Free July 1

Randolph Community College will implement its Tobacco Free Policy on July 1, joining approximately 35 other colleges and universities in North Carolina who have committed to tobacco-free campuses to provide a healthy and safe environment for their students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The policy was approved by RCC's Board of Trustees on Nov. 19, 2009, with a July 1, 2010, effective date.

The new policy states that "Use of tobacco is prohibited by students, staff, faculty, or visitors in all campus buildings, facilities or property owned or used by RCC, including outside areas. Tobacco use shall be permitted in personal vehicles as long as no tobacco litter is left on campus. For the purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined as any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, hookahs, smokeless or spit tobacco, or snuff."

The College has spent the last six months publicizing the policy internally through banners, e-mails, the College Web site, and the student portal Campus Cruiser, according to Kevin Walker, co-chair of the College's Health/Wellness Committee. The College offered Smoking Cessation classes in April, although no one signed up at that time, said Walker. More classes will be offered in August. These classes are provided through Randolph Hospital.

Signage and other materials were provided through the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund, and RCC has joined the Tobacco-Free Colleges Initiative. More information about the grant funding and the Tobacco-Free Colleges Initiative, including a list of those colleges, can be found at www.healthwellnc.com or www.tobaccofreecollegesnc.com.

In preparation for the July 1 implementation, the College staff is removing ashtrays and installing new signage throughout the Asheboro Campus, Archdale Center, the Emergency Services Training Center, the Cosmetology Center in Hillside Shopping Center, and the RCC Learning Center in the Chevy Centre on South Fayetteville Street. The smoking pavilions on the Asheboro Campus will become tobacco-free sitting areas.

Violators of the policy shall be issued a verbal warning. For those who repeatedly violate the policy, further action will be taken. The full policy is available on the College's Web site at
www.randolph.edu/studentlife/tobacco_free.php.

Randolph Community College Receives Grants from Duke Energy, Golden LEAF, Others

In its ongoing efforts to supplement state and local funding for programs, equipment, and facilities, Randolph Community College recently sought and has been awarded significant funding from four sources that will support two curriculum programs, an internal lighting project, and its Library services.

To read more, go to http://www.randolph.edu/newevents/2010/2010-06-28.php .

Taxidermy Class Begins July 19 at Randolph Community College Asheboro Campus

Randolph Community College will offer a Taxidermy course focused on fish this summer. The course will be held July 19-Sept. 29 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Asheboro Campus.

The course will cover fish identification, measuring techniques, rebuilding fish with proper form and coloration, state and federal laws affecting fish, and other topics. Cost is $181.25 and includes a registration fee of $175, a supply fee of $5, and an insurance fee of $1.25. Students must provide their own specimens.

The class is limited to a maximum of 20 participants, so register early. The registration deadline is July 12. To register, contact Kathy Thornburg in Continuing Education at 633-0216 or e-mail kwthornburg@randolph.edu.

Randolph Community College Urges Students to Apply Early for Fall

Randolph Community College is expecting another record enrollment this fall and is encouraging all new students to apply and register early. As of mid-June, RCC had received over 1,500 new student applications for fall, according to Anne Hockett, vice president for instructional services for the college. Students who complete their application process early, including placement testing, will receive an invitation to sign up for early advising and registration sessions the weeks of July 26-30 and Aug. 2-6.

New programs for this fall will include the Industrial Engineering Technology program and the Medical Office Administration program. In addition, RCC will offer 16 new premajors in the Associate in Arts (College Transfer) area.

Also new this fall, the Archdale Center will offer the complete Associate in Arts (College Transfer) program on that campus, pending SACS approval. That approval is expected soon.

In addition, RCC students will have more choices this fall in how they complete their classes. Seven of RCC's programs are now offered totally online as well as in a traditional classroom setting. Those are Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice Technology, Early Childhood Education, Healthcare Management Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Office Administration.

Students with questions should call the Information Center at Randolph Community College at 336-633-0200 in Asheboro or 336-862-7980 in Archdale. To apply online, go to www.randolph.edu and click "How to Enroll."

Students in need of financial aid are also encouraged to complete that application process early. Information on the financial aid process can be obtained at www.randolph.edu/fin_aid.

Fall semester classes begin Monday, Aug 16.

Historic Landmark Preservation Commission Adopts Logo Design by Randolph Community College Student

Just as it happens in the real world of work, when the Randolph Community College Advertising & Graphic Design students presented their logo designs (a fall semester class project) to the Randolph County Historic Landmark Preservation Commission last November, none of the designs were quite what the Commission was looking for. So three of the second-year students--DeAna Ramirez, Jamie Kellis, and Bryan Kennedy--decided to continue working with the Commission on a volunteer basis to rework the designs and come up with some new ideas.

The students decided to meet with the Commission members in groups of four or five to get a better idea of what the group was looking for in a logo. One of the earlier proposed logos had been developed based on the exterior of the historic 1909 Randolph County Courthouse. "One Commission member suggested we look at features inside the courthouse as inspiration for the logo instead of the outside," said Ramirez. "There was a unique ceiling tin used in that courthouse. I started developing a new logo design based on that ceiling tin."

To read the rest of the story, go here: http://www.randolph.edu/newevents/2010/2010-06-15a.php.

Randolph Community College Student Wins Three Taxidermy Ribbons

Randolph Community College Taxidermy student Vicki Hayes of Trinity won three ribbons at the 2010 Taxidermy Mini-Course and Competition held at Surry Community College in Dobson recently. Hayes, a student in the Taxidermy class at the RCC Archdale Center taught by Steve Davis, won 2nd place for a coyote, 3rd place for a Columbian Wyandotte rooster, and 3rd place for a pheasant.

There were 128 entries in the 2010 Taxidermy Mini-Course Competition. Competition entries were judged according to the National Taxidermists Association's specifications.

Hayes has been a student in RCC's Taxidermy program since January 2009. This was her first competition. She said she became interested in taxidermy after catching a fish she wanted to have mounted. "It's fun," she said. "There is a lot of camaraderie in the class." Hayes, who works as a certified nursing assistant, has three children and one grandchild on the way. She also got her CNA training at RCC.

Space Available in Daytime Pottery Class at Randolph Community College

Spaces are available in the afternoon sessions of Randolph Community College's pottery program. The course meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at RCC's pottery center on the Asheboro Campus and offers various levels to meet the needs of beginning through advanced students.

Cost is $175 with a $60 supply fee. For more information, contact Elizabeth Kremer, RCC director of occupational extension, at 336-633-0228, epkremer@randolph.edu, or to register, contact Kathy Thornburg in continuing education at 336-633-0216.

Laura Wilson and Bill Hoover take top honors in Randolph Community College Foundation fundraiser

It was a magical evening. Thirty-four Randolph County civic and community leaders put their toes on the line (and sometimes their dignity aside) to raise thousands of dollars for scholarships for Randolph Community College students during Saturday night's Dancing with the Randolph Stars hosted by the Randolph Community College Foundation.

Laura Wilson, chief operating officer and president of Pyramid Services Inc., and Bill Hoover, retired from RBC Centura and former president and CEO of First Southern Savings Bank, were named the top dancers by getting the most votes from the community at $10 a vote. Votes were solicited online before the event and during the evening at the elegant dinner show held at AVS Catering and Banquet Centre. Wilson and Hoover danced a Michael Jackson-style dance to the singer's signature song, "Bad."

To read the entire story and see a photo gallery, go to http://www.randolph.edu/newevents/2010/2010-06-08.php.