Career Focus Summer 2012 - South Piedmont Community College
Career Focus Summer 2012 - South Piedmont Community College
Career Focus Summer 2012 - South Piedmont Community College
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<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
<strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> Volume 8 • Number 1<br />
Starting A Bachelor’s<br />
Degree At<br />
SPCC Makes<br />
Perfect Sense<br />
See Page 4<br />
Earning A Degree<br />
Can Be The Key<br />
To A Promotion<br />
See Page 6<br />
Nothing But<br />
The Skills, Please!<br />
See Page 7<br />
Be Prepared To Get The Job<br />
You Want<br />
See Page 3
Don’t Assume – Apply!<br />
Unemployed?<br />
Underemployed?<br />
Let us help you plan the next<br />
chapter of your work life.<br />
Human Resources<br />
Development<br />
In Anson County:<br />
Kristi Phifer, 704-272-5460<br />
In Union County:<br />
Linda Kappauf, 704-290-5215<br />
The only way to know if you are eligible<br />
for financial aid is to apply!<br />
Financial aid includes:<br />
• Grants (which are not repaid)<br />
• Scholarships (based on merit or need)<br />
• Student Employment in the Work-Study Program<br />
Fill out your Financial Aid application at:<br />
www.fafsa.ed.gov<br />
If you do not have access to a computer, visit the<br />
Student Success Office in Monroe or Polkton<br />
to use a computer.<br />
SPCC Financial Aid Office<br />
704-272-5391<br />
I should have finished high school!<br />
Re-start your education at SPCC*<br />
Start where YOU need to…<br />
Adult Basic Education,<br />
Adult High School or GED classes.<br />
Start at any time throughout the year.<br />
Classes and materials are FREE.<br />
Choose your location…<br />
Choose your class time…<br />
Pick your class days.<br />
Call 704-290-5830 or 704-272-5468<br />
to learn more.<br />
*Classes are open to adults ages 18 and up.
Questions about the <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
programs and services described in this publication<br />
should be directed to Student Success at 704-290-5100<br />
(Monroe) or 704-272-5300 (Polkton). Comments or questions<br />
about this publication should be directed to the<br />
Marketing and Communications Office at 704-272-5342.<br />
Publisher: ................................................. Dr. Stanley Sidor<br />
President, <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Features<br />
Contents<br />
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
Editor: ......................................................... Rosemary Britt<br />
Director, Marketing & Communications<br />
Contributing Writers: ........... Rosemary Britt, Jim Muldrow<br />
2 Ambulance Simulator Gives<br />
Students A Real Experience<br />
Photography: ....................... Kenn Bowers, Rosemary Britt<br />
and Jim Muldrow<br />
Digital Imaging: .............................................. Kenn Bowers<br />
3 Be Prepared To Get The<br />
Job You Want<br />
Visit <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong> on the web<br />
at www.spcc.edu<br />
4 Starting A Bachelor’s Degree<br />
at SPCC Makes Perfect Sense<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Board of Trustees<br />
Kenneth E. Collins<br />
6 Earning A Degree Can Be<br />
The Key To A Promotion<br />
Thomas L. Crooke Sr., Chair<br />
John N. Hendley<br />
7 Nothing But The Skills, Please!<br />
Kenneth W. Horne Jr.<br />
Hoy S. Lanning Jr.<br />
Harvey H. Leavitt III, Past Chair<br />
8 Co-op Experience Leads<br />
To The RIGHT Job<br />
Cynthia H. Little, Secretary<br />
Donna McNair<br />
<strong>Career</strong>s<br />
Bill F. Norwood<br />
Dr. Charles F. Palmer<br />
Richard Stone<br />
Dr. Jerry Thomas<br />
Jarvis T. Woodburn, Vice Chair<br />
Elizabeth Lynn Hodge,<br />
Student Government Association President<br />
Executive Staff<br />
Stanley Sidor, Ed.D., President<br />
Charlene Broome, Interim Executive Director,<br />
SPCC Foundation/<strong>Community</strong> Relations<br />
Elaine Clodfelter, Vice President,<br />
Student Success<br />
John DeVitto, Vice President,<br />
Finance and Administrative Services<br />
Ernest Simons, Vice President,<br />
Information Services<br />
Stuart Wasilowski, Vice President,<br />
School of Applied Science and Technology<br />
Hayne White, Interim Vice President,<br />
School of Arts and Sciences<br />
<strong>Career</strong> <strong>Focus</strong> is published twice a year by <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>, P.O. Box 126, Polkton, NC 28135. All rights<br />
reserved. No part of the material may be reproduced or used in<br />
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including<br />
photocopying, recording or any information storage retrieval<br />
system without the permission of the publisher.<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> is an equal opportunity<br />
institution.<br />
© <strong>2012</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
9 <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> A-Z<br />
Are you ready to start a career, learn<br />
new skills or change careers?<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
has a program for you.<br />
Find More<br />
Online<br />
Download a free QR Reader<br />
for your smartphone and<br />
scan this code for<br />
more information about<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
On the cover<br />
Lisa Murphy earned an associate degree in Advertising and Graphic<br />
Design at SPCC. While she was in high school and college, Murphy<br />
never missed an opportunity to get her art work noticed. Today she<br />
works full time for the Mecklenburg County Council of the Boy Scouts<br />
of America.<br />
Get a FREE Digital Subscription to<br />
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> Interactive<br />
Valuable <strong>Career</strong> Information You Need Now<br />
• Just graduated from high school?<br />
• Looking for a new career?<br />
• Ready to move up?<br />
• Need a better income?<br />
The NEW Interactive <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> magazine connects you<br />
directly to <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> resources to<br />
help you choose the right education and career path.<br />
Sign up for a Free Subscription<br />
at spcc.mycareerfocus.org<br />
704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300 I www.spcc.edu I <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I 1
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
Feature<br />
Ambulance Simulator Gives<br />
SPCC Students A Real Experience<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s<br />
ambulance simulator<br />
looks so real, one might<br />
think it was driven into<br />
the building. Some folks<br />
have looked around<br />
the corner into the<br />
next room to see if the front of the<br />
ambulance is there.<br />
“Several people have asked where<br />
the front of it was,” said SPCC<br />
Emergency Medical Services<br />
Coordinator Robby Smith. “The gas<br />
cap on the side really gives it some<br />
feel like it was driven in here.”<br />
As the gas cap illustrates, no<br />
detail was spared in creating an<br />
ambulance simulator for SPCC’s<br />
EMS students. The same attention<br />
to detail went into the inside of<br />
the simulator, which is actually an<br />
ambulance that was stripped apart<br />
and rebuilt inside the classroom.<br />
“We’ve put everything in here an<br />
ambulance would have – oxygen,<br />
a vacuum pump system,” said<br />
Dennis Baucom, SPCC’s director of<br />
Vocational Trades, who helped build<br />
the simulator.<br />
“It actually gives students the look<br />
of a real ambulance to practice in<br />
prior to going to clinical,” Smith<br />
said. “Another benefit is they’re<br />
learning to work within their space<br />
restraints. Paramedic students<br />
are used to working with large<br />
tables to put in IVs. There are<br />
actually documented studies that<br />
show when you put students in<br />
the environment, with pictures<br />
and noises, it will increase their<br />
adrenaline and cause stress.”<br />
The simulator has that with a<br />
23-minute looping video, complete<br />
with siren blaring, on a screen<br />
where the cab would be that gives<br />
the impression the ambulance is<br />
traveling down the road.<br />
There is also a camera mounted in<br />
the ambulance that allows students<br />
in an adjacent classroom to watch on<br />
a monitor what’s going on. Jackson,<br />
SPCC’s high-fidelity training<br />
mannequin, is on a stretcher in the<br />
ambulance. A computer connected<br />
Robby Smith, SPCC’s Emergency Medical Services coordinator, sits in the back of the ambulance simulator with Jackson, the<br />
school’s high-fidelity training mannequin. At the back a video is playing that gives the appearance of looking through the cab as<br />
the ambulance travels down the road.<br />
to Jackson allows Smith to create<br />
scenarios and have the students<br />
respond accordingly, or a two-way<br />
radio allows Smith to pretend he is<br />
at the hospital, giving instructions<br />
to the paramedic students as they<br />
are “en route.”<br />
The simulator also allows for<br />
better training in what might seem<br />
like simple tasks – like lifting a<br />
stretcher into the ambulance with a<br />
body on it. The students have taken<br />
turns being “the body” and found<br />
out how it feels to be lifted off the<br />
ground and pushed into the back of<br />
an ambulance.<br />
Smith noted that even professional<br />
EMS workers have been impressed<br />
by the simulator.<br />
“Basically, Robby has been<br />
dreaming of this for a couple of<br />
years,” Baucom said. “Companies<br />
have simulators available, for<br />
$30,000 to $40,000. He came to<br />
me and said, ‘Can you build it?’ He<br />
brought me some blueprints.”<br />
Baucom thought that he could build<br />
it, but before he got to that point,<br />
a friend of Smith’s alerted him to<br />
a pediatric ambulance without an<br />
engine that had been sitting at<br />
First Class Emergency Vehicles<br />
in Charlotte for five years. The<br />
ambulance would be free to the<br />
college.<br />
Over a period of seven to eight<br />
weeks, Baucom, Smith and<br />
Vocational Trades Instructor Terry<br />
James stripped the ambulance down<br />
and rebuilt it in the classroom.<br />
Baucom and James framed up<br />
walls, raised the floor and then<br />
rebuilt the ambulance around their<br />
framework. “We covered the outside<br />
with aluminum coil,” Baucom said.<br />
“We put screws along it to give it<br />
a rivet effect. We tried to make it<br />
look as much like an ambulance as<br />
possible.”<br />
“You can buy commercial<br />
ambulance simulators for training<br />
purposes,” Smith said. “This is the<br />
real thing.” CF<br />
Learn more about Emergency<br />
Medical Technician and<br />
Paramedic Training at SPCC:<br />
Robby Smith<br />
704-290-5817<br />
rsmith@spcc.edu<br />
2<br />
I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> I www.spcc.edu I 704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300
Feature<br />
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
Two New Design<br />
Certificates!<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong>’s Advertising and<br />
Graphic Design program will<br />
add two new certificates this<br />
fall. Both certificates take two<br />
semesters to complete with all<br />
classes offered at night.<br />
Be Prepared To Get The Job<br />
You Want<br />
By Jim Muldrow<br />
CHARLOTTE – “Be<br />
Prepared” has been the<br />
motto of the Boy Scouts<br />
of America since 1907.<br />
Lisa Murphy obviously<br />
has never been a Boy<br />
Scout, but she’s been<br />
preparing herself for<br />
her current position for quite some<br />
time.<br />
Murphy, 23, who graduated from<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
in 2010 with a degree in Advertising<br />
and Graphic Design, now works<br />
as a graphic specialist for the<br />
Mecklenburg County Council of Boy<br />
Scouts of America.<br />
“It was something I always wanted,”<br />
Murphy said of her new career.<br />
Even before she graduated from<br />
Monroe High School, Murphy was<br />
winning awards for her work. Her<br />
prom dress design won a contest<br />
sponsored by Belk and garnered<br />
a three-day trip to New York. She<br />
won several Cosmo Girl contests,<br />
including a T-shirt contest and an<br />
art contest.<br />
She brought that talent to SPCC,<br />
where she continued to win contests.<br />
Twice, her Christmas card design<br />
was selected to be SPCC’s official<br />
Christmas card. She was also a<br />
featured artist several times for the<br />
Monroe Art Walk.<br />
Murphy can rattle off a list of<br />
reasons that made her time at SPCC<br />
“a great experience.”<br />
“Flexibility,” she said. “I was able to<br />
work and go to school at the same<br />
time. We did a lot of the exact same<br />
type of things I’m doing here. One<br />
class, we had to create a brand and<br />
identity for a certain event.” As<br />
part of that assignment, students<br />
had to create fliers and marketing<br />
materials.<br />
As it turns out, that is a lot of<br />
what she does now. “I get to design<br />
print pieces in house,” she said.<br />
“Quarterly newsletters, fliers, the<br />
annual report. … I do a little bit on<br />
our website as well.”<br />
She especially enjoys being creative<br />
on the in-house print pieces. She<br />
recently designed personalized<br />
invitations and thank-you notes for<br />
Scouts to send out for their Eagle<br />
Scout ceremonies. “We’ll start<br />
selling them soon,” she said. “Just<br />
little ideas we can come up with<br />
so … our council can make a little<br />
profit.”<br />
Another thing Murphy liked about<br />
SPCC was more one-on-one time<br />
with teachers than one would get<br />
at larger schools. One of those<br />
instructors really stood out to her.<br />
“Cheryl Hicks,” she said. “I think<br />
she inspired us a lot. You could tell<br />
creativity was a passion of hers. She<br />
always pushed us to do more.”<br />
But, Murphy also made an<br />
impression on Hicks. “She’s<br />
absolutely one of the top three<br />
creative designers we’ve ever had<br />
here,” Hicks said. “She had a great<br />
work ethic. She was always willing<br />
to go above and beyond what was<br />
expected of her.”<br />
Murphy worked at Target during<br />
her time at SPCC, working freelance<br />
jobs on the side. She continued<br />
doing both after she graduated,<br />
and one of her free-lance jobs led to<br />
her job with the Boy Scouts. “I was<br />
actually doing some free-lance work<br />
for another printer,” she said. “He<br />
was very involved in Scouting. He<br />
told me they had a job open here,<br />
and I was able to get an interview.”<br />
That was last summer. She is quite<br />
happy in her job, especially when<br />
she gets to let her creativity flow. “I<br />
do plan on staying here for a while,”<br />
she said.<br />
Multimedia Design<br />
Certificate<br />
Web Development Tools<br />
Computer Design Basics<br />
Intro to Internet Multimedia<br />
Social Media<br />
Animation I<br />
Multimedia Design I<br />
Multimedia Design II<br />
Web Design Certificate<br />
Web Development Tools<br />
Computer Design Basics<br />
Internet/Web Fundamentals<br />
Animation I<br />
Web Design<br />
Multimedia Design<br />
For more information:<br />
Linda Ward, 704-290-5279,<br />
lmward@spcc.edu<br />
Cheryl Hicks, 704-290-5815,<br />
chicks@spcc.edu<br />
John Hill at jhill@spcc.edu<br />
She plans to continue her free-lance<br />
work, as well. “One of my goals is to<br />
do something on my own,” she said.<br />
And, she has a bit of advice<br />
for anyone studying at <strong>South</strong><br />
<strong>Piedmont</strong>, whether it’s in<br />
Advertising and Graphic Design<br />
or another program. “Take any<br />
opportunity you can,” she said.<br />
“I probably could have taken a<br />
couple more classes to get my web<br />
certificate. I did not and I regret it.<br />
Everything is very useful. It’s not<br />
going to be a waste of time.” CF<br />
Learn more about Advertising<br />
and Graphic Design at SPCC:<br />
Linda Monroe Ward<br />
704-290-5279<br />
lmward@spcc.edu<br />
704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300 I www.spcc.edu I <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I 3
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
Feature<br />
Starting A Bachelor’s Degree At SPCC<br />
Makes Perfect Sense!<br />
By Jim Muldrow<br />
Rhonda Timberlake<br />
always wanted to be a<br />
teacher, but her father<br />
had other ideas. He<br />
was a CPA and thought<br />
she should go into a<br />
field where she would<br />
make more money, so<br />
she spent 10 years in banking.<br />
When Laura Poland was 7,<br />
she would play school with the<br />
neighborhood children and teach<br />
her friends’ younger siblings. She<br />
even wrote out a schedule that<br />
included recess. Out of high school,<br />
however, she enlisted in the Army<br />
National Guard instead of pursuing<br />
a teaching career.<br />
Both were able to achieve<br />
their dreams through <strong>South</strong><br />
<strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>’s<br />
2+2 partnership with Wingate<br />
University. Basically, the program<br />
allows a student to earn an<br />
Associate in Arts – Elementary<br />
Education degree at SPCC, then<br />
transfer to Wingate and earn<br />
a Bachelor of Science degree in<br />
Elementary Education K-6. SPCC’s<br />
tuition is lower than any fouryear<br />
school’s, and Wingate has<br />
historically given students in the<br />
program a lower tuition rate as well,<br />
making the program available to<br />
some who might not otherwise be<br />
able to afford pursuing a teaching<br />
degree.<br />
Timberlake, now 43, landed a job<br />
as a reading teacher at Porter<br />
Ridge Elementary School. She was<br />
already enrolled in Early Childhood<br />
Education classes at SPCC when the<br />
program first kicked off in the fall of<br />
2006. “SPCC was starting it while<br />
I was there,” she said. “I was able<br />
to finish Early Childhood as well as<br />
start in 2+2. The schedule was more<br />
convenient because I could take<br />
night classes.”<br />
Timberlake continued to work full<br />
time while she returned to school.<br />
“(The two schools) offering night<br />
classes helped to complete the<br />
degree, with me already being a<br />
mom and life in general going on,”<br />
she said.<br />
“I really enjoyed being at <strong>South</strong><br />
<strong>Piedmont</strong>, because I lived right<br />
down the street,” she added.<br />
Timberlake had first enrolled at<br />
Wingate when she finished high<br />
school – majoring in business per<br />
her father’s wishes – but did not<br />
last long. “Fresh out of high school,<br />
I thought I knew it all,” she said. “I<br />
Rhonda Timberlake, SPCC Associate in Arts-Elementary Education graduate and teacher<br />
4<br />
I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> I www.spcc.edu I 704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300
SPCC Offers So Many<br />
Transfer Options<br />
SPCC’ s transfer agreement with<br />
Wingate University for the 2+2<br />
program is just one of many that<br />
SPCC has in place to ease students’<br />
transitions into four-year schools<br />
after they graduate.<br />
Because each agreement is different,<br />
prospective students should talk<br />
with an SPCC counselor to see if<br />
a particular program meets their<br />
needs.<br />
Laura Poland, SPCC Associate in Arts-Elementary Education graduate and teacher<br />
was having to work and pay my way<br />
through it. It wasn’t working.”<br />
But, even though her father had<br />
talked her out of pursuing an<br />
education degree, the dream never<br />
really died for her. “Even when I<br />
was working at the bank, all the<br />
things I was involved in – in the<br />
community, at church – all revolved<br />
around children,” she said. “I went<br />
back for what I should have gone for<br />
in the first place.”<br />
Poland, now 25, teaches third grade<br />
at Waxhaw Elementary School.<br />
Having finished her post-high<br />
school stint in the military, she had<br />
no desire to live in a dorm room,<br />
which she might have done had she<br />
followed through on plans to attend<br />
UNC Charlotte. But the thing that<br />
really caught her attention about<br />
the 2+2 program was the cost.<br />
“Financially, it was a much better<br />
choice than what I was going to do,”<br />
she said.<br />
“You get the same quality education<br />
for less money,” she said. “You have<br />
smaller classes at a community<br />
college. You get to know the people<br />
you meet. It made the transition to<br />
Wingate easier, because you already<br />
knew the people. Having the sense<br />
of community made it easier.”<br />
The idea was that the members of the<br />
cohort would bond and support each other.<br />
That idea apparently took hold.<br />
That camaraderie among the<br />
participants was one of the goals<br />
when the program was established.<br />
The idea was that the members of<br />
the cohort (the group of students<br />
who go through the program<br />
together) would bond and support<br />
each other. That idea apparently<br />
took hold. Timberlake said that five<br />
of the eight who graduated with the<br />
original class in 2010 still keep in<br />
regular contact and meet for dinner<br />
occasionally.<br />
“You have to really want to do it,”<br />
Poland said. “No one is going to hold<br />
your hand. It’s very rigorous. Just<br />
because it’s a community college<br />
doesn’t mean it’s anything less. …<br />
It’s a really good deal and a good<br />
opportunity.”<br />
Even the student teaching<br />
component proved to be beneficial<br />
for Poland. She did her student<br />
teaching at Union Elementary, and<br />
the principal there was friends<br />
with the principal at Waxhaw. One<br />
recommendation later, Poland had<br />
a job. She started at Waxhaw in<br />
January 2011.<br />
The agreement between SPCC<br />
and Wingate stipulates that<br />
students must meet all of Wingate’s<br />
admissions requirements, as<br />
well as graduation requirements<br />
according to their catalog of entry.<br />
To receive credit for a course taken<br />
at SPCC, a student must have made<br />
a C or higher. Wingate agrees to<br />
accept transfer credits for specified<br />
courses. Other courses taken at<br />
SPCC will be evaluated for transfer<br />
on a course-by-course basis.<br />
For more information about the 2+2<br />
agreement with Wingate, contact<br />
Valerie Jones at 704-272-5424 or<br />
vjones@spcc.edu.<br />
SPCC has agreements in place with<br />
the following schools for the programs<br />
noted:<br />
• Barton <strong>College</strong>: Early Childhood/<br />
B-K Education<br />
• Bellevue University: Associate in<br />
Arts; Associate in Science<br />
• Central <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong>: Computer Technology<br />
Integration; Simulation and Game<br />
Development; Fire Protection;<br />
Geographic Information Systems<br />
(for Union County Public Schools)<br />
• Gaston <strong>College</strong>: Biotechnology<br />
• Queens University: Associate in<br />
Applied Science – Human Services<br />
Technology<br />
• Stanly <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>:<br />
Biomedical Equipment<br />
• StrayerUniversity: Associate<br />
in Arts, Associate in Science,<br />
Associate in Applied Science to<br />
Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of<br />
Science<br />
• UNC Charlotte: Associate in<br />
Applied Science – Early Childhood<br />
• UNC Greensboro: Associate in<br />
Applied Science for Accounting;<br />
Advertising and Graphic Design;<br />
Air Conditioning, Heating<br />
and Refrigeration Technology;<br />
Associate Degree Nursing;<br />
Business Administration;<br />
Computer Information<br />
Technology; Criminal Justice<br />
Technology; Early Childhood<br />
Education; Electrical/Electronics<br />
Technology; Entrepreneurship;<br />
Human Services Technology;<br />
Medical Assisting; Medical<br />
Office Administration; Medical<br />
Sonography; Paralegal Technology;<br />
School-Age Education; Surgical<br />
Technology<br />
• University of Phoenix: Associate in<br />
Arts; Associate in Science<br />
• Wingate University: Associate<br />
in Arts – Elementary Education;<br />
Associate in Science – Pharmacy<br />
Pathway<br />
• Winston-Salem State University:<br />
Associate Degree Nursing to<br />
RN-BSN CF<br />
704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300 I www.spcc.edu I <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I 5
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
Feature<br />
Earning A Degree Can Be<br />
The Key To A Promotion<br />
SPCC Accounting Graduate Windy Smith pauses in ATI Allvac’s company museum.<br />
By Jim Muldrow<br />
A<br />
few years ago, Windy<br />
Smith realized she<br />
needed a little more.<br />
She had been working<br />
at ATI Allvac, a<br />
subsidiary of ATI<br />
Metals, in Monroe<br />
for more than four<br />
years as an accounts payable clerk<br />
and had just been promoted to<br />
accounting supervisor.<br />
“I knew then that for me to work<br />
effectively in that position, I would<br />
have to go back to school and get<br />
educated in that area so I could<br />
understand the process,” she said.<br />
She picked <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>.<br />
“The reason I chose SPCC was<br />
flexibility for me – transportationwise,<br />
distance, classroom size,” she<br />
said. “I just like to keep it local<br />
and patronize things around me. I<br />
knew a lot of people who had gone<br />
there and graduated. I was very<br />
comfortable as far as curriculum<br />
and staff.”<br />
A native and resident of Anson<br />
County, Smith took classes on the<br />
L.L. Polk Campus in Polkton and<br />
the Old Charlotte Highway Campus<br />
in Monroe. “Wherever a class was<br />
being offered and was better for my<br />
situation, that’s where I went,” she<br />
said.<br />
Smith continued to work full<br />
time while going to school. With<br />
a husband and three children at<br />
home, it took her more than seven<br />
years to finish her associate degree<br />
in Accounting. She graduated in<br />
2009.<br />
“I was unable to go during the day,”<br />
she said. “It took me a while to get<br />
through. I was determined that I<br />
was going to finish. When you have<br />
a family – God is first, and then<br />
family. Those are my priorities first<br />
and foremost.”<br />
All the while, Allvac was supportive<br />
of her efforts. “We have an excellent<br />
training department here that will<br />
help any employee with continuing<br />
their education,” Smith said.<br />
“Supervisors understood with<br />
being a working parent, a full-time<br />
worker, it might take a while. They<br />
were flexible.”<br />
With her degree completed, Smith<br />
has been promoted again and is now<br />
a junior staff accountant. Because<br />
of company requirements, she might<br />
not have been able to take that<br />
promotion without the associate<br />
degree.<br />
To advance further at Allvac, Smith<br />
might need a bachelor’s degree,<br />
and she’s considering enrolling at<br />
Strayer University. For now, she’s<br />
happy doing what she does, which<br />
requires a lot of interaction with<br />
internal and external customers.<br />
To make it all work, she has to be<br />
knowledgeable about the company’s<br />
fixed assets.<br />
“I really love what I do,” she said. “I<br />
really love solving problems, even<br />
though sometimes they may take<br />
a little more effort. … I’m just not<br />
limited to fixed assets. I can multitask<br />
in other areas. Accounting is<br />
never boring at all.”<br />
A member of SPCC’s advisory board<br />
for Accounting, Smith remains an<br />
advocate for community colleges in<br />
general and SPCC in particular.<br />
Her two daughters are currently<br />
students at four-year colleges –<br />
UNC-Pembroke and Winston-Salem<br />
State – but one of them attended<br />
SPCC for a year before moving on.<br />
“I would recommend to any person,<br />
if you’re not sure what you want to<br />
do, try community college,” she said.<br />
“They are less expensive, and the<br />
instructors are excellent.<br />
“I think community colleges make<br />
a powerful impact on people,” she<br />
said. CF<br />
Learn more about<br />
Accounting at SPCC:<br />
Toiya Evans<br />
704-290-5233<br />
tevans@spcc.edu<br />
6<br />
I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> I www.spcc.edu I 704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300
Nothing But The Skills, Please!<br />
Feature<br />
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
By Jim Muldrow<br />
Ever wished you could<br />
take just part of a class<br />
because you wanted<br />
a particular skill, but<br />
didn’t really want to sit<br />
through every session?<br />
Or, maybe wanted to<br />
brush up on a particular<br />
topic without going to class for four<br />
months?<br />
Now you can!<br />
and tour the labs,” she said. “I ask<br />
them, ‘What do you want to do with<br />
this?’”<br />
She said the biggest benefit of the<br />
classes without credit is for the<br />
people who have been out of school<br />
a while. “They’re afraid of failure,”<br />
she said. “It’s a fantastic opportunity<br />
to gain the knowledge and get over<br />
the fear of college placement tests.<br />
Some are not sure how they’re going<br />
to deal with homework. Some ask,<br />
‘What if I get a job?’<br />
The School of Applied Science and<br />
Technology at <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> allows students<br />
to take the parts of classes that<br />
appeal to them or meet a specific<br />
need, without having to attend class<br />
for an entire semester.<br />
The student does not earn college<br />
credit for the class, but also does<br />
not have to take a placement test or<br />
any developmental classes. And, of<br />
course, it costs less to take just part<br />
of a class.<br />
Cheryl Hicks, an instructor in the<br />
Advertising and Graphic Design and<br />
CISCO programs, has already seen<br />
first-hand how this can benefit the<br />
student, as well as others students<br />
in her classes.<br />
She had a student in her Adobe<br />
Illustrator class during the<br />
spring semester who already has<br />
a successful career, but attended<br />
her class just to learn the newest<br />
software.<br />
“It was like a fish to water,” Hicks<br />
said. “He came in and did what he<br />
was expected to do. He’s quick to<br />
share his knowledge. … He has a<br />
great deal of enthusiasm. He’s done<br />
every single assignment the rest of<br />
the class has done.<br />
“It brought a new dynamic to my<br />
class,” she said. “The people who<br />
have chosen this path are excited<br />
to begin with. It has improved the<br />
quality of the learning experience<br />
for everyone. I think enthusiasm is<br />
contagious.”<br />
Hicks noted that the Advertising<br />
and Graphic Design program also<br />
hosts open labs that are open to nonstudents.<br />
“They’re free to come by<br />
“Even for the younger ones, it’s<br />
a way to come in and explore,”<br />
she said. “They could just take a<br />
portion of the class. They can get an<br />
e-chapter in an online book. They<br />
can get the knowledge they want<br />
based on how much they want to<br />
spend on it.<br />
“I feel like this is one of the best<br />
things we’ve ever done,” Hicks<br />
added. “They can get the skills they<br />
want based on their needs. I love<br />
the fact that it’s like a customized<br />
education for what they need. It<br />
offers the community a way to stay<br />
on top of things.” CF<br />
Short-Term Training…The First Step Towards Your Dream Job<br />
SPCC’s School of Applied Science<br />
and Technology offers shortterm<br />
medical programs that<br />
provide stepping stones into<br />
more advanced careers. All can be<br />
completed in a year or less.<br />
“The short-term certificates and<br />
diplomas put people in a position to<br />
get a job,” said Stuart Wasilowski,<br />
SPCC’s vice president of Applied<br />
Science and Technology.<br />
Programs that fall into this category<br />
include Medical Assisting, Medical<br />
Laboratory Assisting, Nursing<br />
Assistant, Surgical Technology and<br />
Emergency Medical Services.<br />
Wasilowski said these short-term<br />
programs can help people get their<br />
foot in the door in the medical<br />
field. Once they finish one of these<br />
programs, they might be able to find<br />
a job in that field and come back for<br />
more training later.<br />
He noted that 70 percent of people<br />
who leave college say it’s because<br />
of finances and 57 percent say they<br />
have to work. Obviously, some people<br />
fall in both categories.<br />
“Creating the short-term training<br />
opportunities puts people in position<br />
to get a job,” he emphasized. CF<br />
Learn more about<br />
short-term training<br />
options:<br />
Karen Elizabeth Smith<br />
704-290-5272<br />
ksmith@spcc.edu<br />
704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300 I www.spcc.edu I <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I 7
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
Feature<br />
Co-op Experience<br />
Leads To the<br />
RIGHT Job<br />
Lessons aren’t always<br />
learned in the classroom.<br />
That’s why <strong>South</strong><br />
<strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong> has a co-op class<br />
that allows students to go<br />
into workplaces and get<br />
real-world experience for a<br />
semester.<br />
Often, these students get a job<br />
with their co-op employer, or make<br />
connections that allow them to get a<br />
job somewhere else.<br />
“I’ve seen so many people get so<br />
many jobs and experience, it’s<br />
amazing,” said Deneice Hendrick,<br />
Co-operative Education coordinator<br />
and instructor of the co-op class.<br />
“The networking – you meet so<br />
many people who say, ‘Hey, I know<br />
the kind of job you do.’<br />
“I have had several where the site<br />
they’re working did not have an<br />
opening, but they knew another that<br />
did,” she added. “They recommended<br />
that student and the student got the<br />
job there.”<br />
The class consists of 160 hours on<br />
the job and one classroom session<br />
every two weeks. In the classroom,<br />
the students learn, among other<br />
things, skills that will help them in<br />
future job interviews.<br />
Some programs, such as Paralegal<br />
and Medical Office Administration,<br />
require students to take the co-op<br />
class.<br />
Students who gathered in Hendrick’s<br />
classroom for one of the last classes<br />
of the spring semester had glowing<br />
reports about their experiences.<br />
Many of them said they would even<br />
go in to work when they weren’t<br />
scheduled.<br />
“You build a relationship with them<br />
and you don’t mind helping (when<br />
you’re off),” said Wendi Tarlton,<br />
a Medical Office Administration<br />
student who did her co-op with Dr.<br />
Matthew Chavis, a chiropractor in<br />
Marshville.<br />
Erin Murphy, a Paralegal student,<br />
did her co-op with attorney Zack<br />
Jackson. Admittedly “afraid of<br />
criminal law,” when she started, she<br />
said she told paralegal Instructor<br />
David Broome, “I don’t know what<br />
I would do if I didn’t go to the<br />
courthouse every morning. I leave,<br />
go to class, and come back.”<br />
Now, she said, “I walk into the<br />
courthouse and everyone knows I’m<br />
Zack Jackson’s assistant. They get<br />
to know you in a context besides<br />
meeting you off the street and<br />
interviewing for a job. They know<br />
how hard you’re working.”<br />
She believes that will benefit her<br />
and other co-op students in the<br />
long run. “The co-op student has<br />
the advantage over the non-co-op<br />
student,” she said.<br />
Other students agreed that the<br />
experience and the connections are<br />
both valuable benefits of the class.<br />
“Everybody in the office has said I<br />
can use them as a reference,” said<br />
Sarah Sossamon, a Medical Office<br />
Administration student who did her<br />
co-op at Medical Group of Waxhaw.<br />
“I’ve been told what I need to<br />
say, and how I need to say it in<br />
interviews,” she said.<br />
“Several people said, ‘I’ve told J.R.<br />
(Rowell, Union County clerk of<br />
court) that he needs to hire you,’”<br />
said Monica Eubanks, a Paralegal<br />
student who is working in the Clerk<br />
of Courts office.<br />
While the connections are nice,<br />
the skills that come with the co-op<br />
experience are extremely important.<br />
Each student has three learning<br />
objectives selected jointly by<br />
Hendrick and the student’s employer.<br />
“Without the hands-on experience,<br />
you’re walking in (to a new job)<br />
blind,” Sossamon said.<br />
“Instead of saying, ‘I read about<br />
that,’ you can say, ‘I’ve done that,’”<br />
said Stephanie Renwick, a Medical<br />
Office Administration student who<br />
did her co-op at the Dove Clinic in<br />
Indian Trail. “I feel more confident<br />
walking into an interview after this<br />
class.”<br />
Artis Radford credits his co-op experience with getting him a job offer in the HVAC<br />
business.<br />
“It gives you an opportunity to work<br />
through mistakes,” Murphy said.<br />
“You get the experience, but you’re<br />
also getting guidance.”<br />
“This gives you the opportunity to<br />
learn how they like things because<br />
every office is different,” Sossamon<br />
said.<br />
“Mrs. Hendrick is wonderful,”<br />
said Marcus X, a student in the<br />
Air Conditioning, Heating and<br />
Refrigeration Technology program<br />
who is doing his co-op with Hinson<br />
Mechanical. “She put me in the<br />
perfect spot. … I told her I wanted to<br />
learn as much as I could about HVAC,<br />
and she put me with a company that<br />
has such a diversity of accounts.<br />
David Hinson has put me with some<br />
of the best technicians in the area.<br />
“I owe him something even though<br />
he would say I didn’t owe him<br />
anything,” X continued. “When<br />
they say co-op students don’t get<br />
paid, that’s not really true. They<br />
get paid in skills and knowledge.<br />
That hands-on experience goes<br />
hand-in-hand with the theory in the<br />
classroom. That co-op experience is<br />
going to make the difference when<br />
it’s time to get a job.”<br />
Artis Radford, an Air Conditioning,<br />
Heating and Refrigeration co-op<br />
student who expects to graduate<br />
in December, said he was proof<br />
that co-op pays off for students.<br />
Radford became so enthusiastic<br />
about his co-op experience that he<br />
worked an extra 30 hours at his coop<br />
site, Funderburk Heating and<br />
Air in Pageland, S.C. As the spring<br />
semester drew to a close, Radford<br />
and his co-op supervisor began to<br />
discuss employment at the company.<br />
In addition to the skills and<br />
connections, there is one other<br />
important thing students can learn<br />
in co-op.<br />
“You may get there and realize that’s<br />
not what you want to do,” Murphy<br />
said. “Any learning experience is a<br />
good learning experience. From that<br />
point, you can move on and try other<br />
things.” CF<br />
8<br />
I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> I www.spcc.edu I 704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300
SPCC A to Z<br />
Your Workforce Training & <strong>College</strong> Transfer Options<br />
<strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong><br />
SPCC Credential<br />
Certificate<br />
Diploma<br />
Associate in Arts Degree/<br />
Associate in Science Degree<br />
Gives you<br />
The skills you need to move into an entry-level job and<br />
college credits<br />
Additional skills to help you move up with a promotion<br />
and college credits<br />
The first two years of college coursework to transfer to a<br />
four-year college or university as a junior<br />
Associate in Arts or Science (<strong>College</strong> Transfer)<br />
Associate in Arts - Criminal Justice<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to study criminal justice<br />
Program Contact: Carl Bishop, cbishop@spcc.edu, 704-290-5235<br />
Associate in Arts – Elementary Education<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to study elementary education<br />
Program Contact: Tammy Frailly, tfrailly@spcc.edu, 704-290-5829<br />
Associate in Applied Science<br />
Degree<br />
Continuing Education<br />
Program<br />
In-depth career preparation, as well as some general<br />
education classes, during a two-year course of study<br />
Training in your chosen field, but does not award college<br />
credits<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> A-Z<br />
What follows is an alphabetical listing of programs and areas of study offered by<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>. For more information, call 704-290-5100 or<br />
704-272-5300 or visit SPCC on the Web at www.spcc.edu.<br />
Accounting<br />
Employment in accounting firms, as well as large and small corporations, preparing financial<br />
statements, balance sheets and tax returns.<br />
Employment opportunities: Accounting firms, small businesses, banks, hospitals; selfemployment.<br />
AAS or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,785-$40,794<br />
Program Contact: Toiya Evans, tevans@spcc.edu, 704-290-5233<br />
Activity Coordinator<br />
Employment planning daily activities for older adult residents of assisted living and long-term care<br />
facilities, and coordinating volunteer programs (Graduates of the program are state-qualified to be<br />
employed.)<br />
Employment opportunities: Assisted living and long-term care facilities.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $18,000-$30,000<br />
Program Contact: Sandy Huntley, shuntley@spcc.edu, 704-272-5456<br />
Advertising/Graphic Design<br />
Employment in graphic design with emphasis on print design, web design, multimedia design,<br />
social media, advertising, illustration, photography and publishing.<br />
Employment opportunities: Graphic design studios, advertising agencies, in-house<br />
graphics, printing companies, web design, social media specialist, publishing, and<br />
ePublishing.<br />
AAS or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $24,051-$30,487<br />
Program Contact: Linda M. Ward, lmward@spcc.edu, 704-290-5279<br />
Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration<br />
A career in residential and commercial maintenance and installation of heating and cooling systems.<br />
Employment opportunities: Firms that specialize in installing, repairing and servicing heating<br />
and cooling systems and refrigeration equipment in homes, commercial and industrial buildings.<br />
AAS, Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $24,960-$27,040 1<br />
Program Contact: A. Trent Younger, ayounger@spcc.edu, 704-272-5365<br />
Associate in Arts - Information Systems-Business<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to study business computing<br />
Program Contact: Dr. Susan Lauer, slauer@spcc.edu, 704-290-5886<br />
Associate in Arts – Nursing (Pending State Approval)<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to earn a BS in nursing<br />
Program Contact: David Wheeler, dwheeler@spcc.edu, 704-290-5879<br />
Associate in Arts - Social Work<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to study social work<br />
Program Contact: Carl Bishop, cbishop@spcc.edu, 704-290-5235<br />
Associate in Science – Engineering (Pending State Approval)<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to study engineering<br />
Program Contact: Dr. Susan Lauer, slauer@spcc.edu, 704-290-5886<br />
Associate in Science – Pre-Pharmacy<br />
Transfer to a senior college or university to study pharmacy<br />
Program Contact: David Wheeler, dwheeler@spcc.edu, 704-290-5879<br />
Auto Body Repair<br />
Employment in the auto body repair trade.<br />
Courses lead to I-Car Alliance national certification. WIA approved program. Scholarships<br />
available. Job placement assistance.<br />
Employment opportunities: Auto dealerships or franchised independent garages;<br />
self-employment.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $26,750-$32,949<br />
Program Contact: Bob Winfrey, rwinfrey@spcc.edu, 704-272-7554<br />
Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET)<br />
A career as a certified law enforcement officer in North Carolina.<br />
Employment opportunities: Municipal police departments, sheriffs’ offices, bailiff, NC<br />
State Highway Patrol, State Bureau of Investigation.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $22,048-$23,728<br />
Program Contact: Kevin Ashley, kashley@spcc.edu, 704-290-5820<br />
Biomedical Equipment Technology<br />
(offered in collaboration with Stanly <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>)<br />
Employment as a biomedical equipment technician.<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, clinics,<br />
research laboratories, service organizations and<br />
medical equipment manufacturers.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $30,000-$50,000 3<br />
Program Contact: George Kouvaris, gkouvaris@spcc.edu, 704-290-5265<br />
704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300 I www.spcc.edu I <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I 9
Biotechnology (offered in collaboration with Gaston <strong>College</strong>)<br />
Employment as research assistants to biologists or chemists, laboratory technicians,<br />
instrumentation technicians or quality assurance technicians.<br />
Employment opportunities: High tech manufacturing, agribusiness, government, research<br />
and development, sales, customer service.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $25,000-50,000 4<br />
Program Contact: David Wheeler, dwheeler@spcc.edu, 704-290-5879<br />
Business Administration<br />
Employment requiring fundamental knowledge of business functions and processes.<br />
Employment opportunities: Government agencies, financial institutions, large/small<br />
businesses; self-employment.<br />
AAS or Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $27,094-36,478<br />
Program Contact: Fredrea Crawford-Smith, fsmith@spcc.edu, 704-290-5274<br />
Computer Information Technology<br />
Employment with organizations that use computers to process, manage and communicate<br />
information.<br />
Employment opportunities: Systems maintenance, troubleshooting, support/training and<br />
business applications design and implementation.<br />
AAS or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,000-$73,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Chris Johnson, c-johnson@spcc.edu, 704-272-5426<br />
Computer Information Technology – Mobile Apps Foundation<br />
Employment as a Mobile Apps Developer trainee.<br />
Employment opportunities: Business and industry, including entertainment, health care,<br />
education and government agencies.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $48,000 - $68,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Kim Bateman, kbateman@spcc.edu, 704-272-5417<br />
Computer Information Technology-Game Development<br />
Entry-level employment as game designer.<br />
Employment opportunities: Gaming industry as programmer trainees and software<br />
developers.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,000-$51,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Oscar Gonzalez, ogonzalez@spcc.edu, 704-290-5232<br />
Computer Information Technology - Microsoft Office<br />
Entry-level employment as a Microsoft Office specialist.<br />
Employment opportunities: Business, industry, government organizations as computer<br />
operators and software support technicians.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,000-$52,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Patricia Johnson, p-johnson@spcc.edu, 704-272-5423<br />
Computer Information Technology - Operating Systems<br />
Entry-level employment with organizations that require operating systems administration.<br />
Employment opportunities: Systems maintenance, troubleshooting, support/training and<br />
OS administration.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,000-$68,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Kim Bateman, kbateman@spcc.edu, 704-272-5417<br />
Computer Information Technology-Routing & Switching (CISCO)<br />
Employment installing and supporting computer networks<br />
(Students in this program may prepare for exams to earn<br />
Cisco certification.)<br />
Employment opportunities: LAN/PC administrators,<br />
microcomputer support specialist, network control operator,<br />
communication technician/analyst, network/computer<br />
consultant, information systems specialist.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,000-$63,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Cheryl Hicks,<br />
chicks@spcc.edu, 704-290-5815<br />
Computer Technology Integration-Mobile Apps Development<br />
(Partnership with Central <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>)<br />
Employment as programmer, tester, quality assurance analyst, engineer and software developer.<br />
Employment opportunities: Business and industry, including entertainment,<br />
health care, education and government agencies.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $48,000 - $98,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Kim Bateman, kbateman@spcc.edu, 704-272-5417<br />
Computer Technology Integration-Web Technologies<br />
(Partnership with Central <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>)<br />
Employment as designer, administrator and developer in the areas of web applications, websites,<br />
web services, and related areas of distributed computing.<br />
Employment opportunities: Business and industry, including education and<br />
government agencies.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $56,000 - $70,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Chris Johnson, c-johnson@spcc.edu, 704-272-5426<br />
Contractors’ Exam Review<br />
Taking the N.C. Residential or Commercial Contractors’ Exam given by the North Carolina<br />
Contractors’ Licensing Board.<br />
Employment opportunities: Residential and commercial construction.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: Varies according to construction field<br />
Program Contact: Geri Duncan, gduncan@spcc.edu, 704-290-5221<br />
Criminal Justice Technology<br />
Employment within the local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, court systems,<br />
correctional facilities, security, loss prevention and forensic science.<br />
Employment opportunities: Police officer, deputy sheriff, detention officer, state trooper,<br />
probation/parole officer, surveillance officer, loss prevention specialist, crime scene tech,<br />
FBI agent, SBI agent, court clerk, private investigator, trial court administrator, victim/witness<br />
assistant and criminal background researcher.<br />
AAS or Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $26,000-$42,000 6<br />
Program Contact: Miriam Sallee, msallee@spcc.edu, 704-290-5264<br />
Early Childhood Education<br />
Working with children from infancy through middle<br />
childhood in diverse learning environments.<br />
Employment opportunities: Preschools,<br />
childcare programs, Head Start, public and<br />
private schools, recreational centers.<br />
AAS or Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $17,202-$19,618<br />
Program Contact: Sharon Little,<br />
s-little@spcc.edu, 704-272-5399<br />
10<br />
I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> I www.spcc.edu I 704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300
Electrical/Electronics Technology<br />
Employment installing and maintaining electrical/electronic systems found in residential,<br />
commercial and industrial facilities.<br />
Employment opportunities: On-the-job trainee or apprentice assisting in the layout, installation<br />
and maintenance of electrical/electronic systems (Graduates who successfully complete the<br />
required apprenticeship are prepared to take the state electrical contracting license exam.)<br />
AAS, Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $33,456-$40,502<br />
Program Contact: Contact: George Kouvaris, gkouvaris@spcc.edu, 704-290-5265<br />
Emergency Medical Technician<br />
Administering first aid treatment and transporting sick or injured<br />
persons to medical facility, working as a paid or volunteer member<br />
of an emergency medical team.<br />
Employment opportunities: Ambulance services, fire and<br />
rescue agencies.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
(Basic, Intermediate and Paramedic)<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $20,000-$40,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Contact: Robby Smith, rsmith@spcc.edu, 704-290-5817<br />
Entrepreneurship<br />
Employment in your own business.<br />
Employment opportunities: Self-employed business owner.<br />
AAS, Diploma or Certificate<br />
Program Contact: Sam Spencer, sspencer@spcc.edu, 704-272-5425<br />
Fire Fighter Training<br />
Employment or volunteer duties with a fire department. Basic and continuing training for fire<br />
fighters is provided in cooperation with local municipal and volunteer departments (A student must<br />
be a member of a fire department to take training.)<br />
Employment opportunities: Municipal fire departments.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $22,267-$26,130<br />
Program Contact: Chris Yates, cyates@spcc.edu, 704-290-5816<br />
Fire Protection Technology<br />
(offered in collaboration with Central <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>)<br />
Occupations where the technical knowledge of fire protection is needed in order to deal with<br />
hazardous materials, investigate arson, and make fire prevention recommendations to the<br />
public and private sector.<br />
Employment opportunities: Government agencies, industrial firms, insurance rating<br />
organizations, educational organizations, municipal fire departments with the opportunity<br />
for skilled and supervisory-level positions.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $29,463-$32,585<br />
Program Contact: Tammy Frailly, tfrailly@spcc.edu, 704-290-5829<br />
David Wheeler, dwheeler@spcc.edu, 704-290-5879<br />
Human Services Technology<br />
Family and child assistance programs, rehabilitation services, youth services, services for aging,<br />
programs for developmentally disabled.<br />
Employment opportunities: Employment doing direct service delivery work in social<br />
service agencies.<br />
AAS or Diploma<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $24,600-$35,000 8<br />
Program Contact: Fedder Williams, f-williams@spcc.edu, 704-290-5877<br />
Human Services Technology-Substance Abuse Certificate<br />
Employment as substance abuse counselor, DWI counselor, residential facility worker.<br />
Employment opportunities: Substance abuse counselors work with physicians, nurses,<br />
social workers, mental health counselors, police in courts, schools, correctional facilities,<br />
treatment facilities.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $28,000-$45,000 9<br />
Program Contact: Fedder Williams, f-williams@spcc.edu, 704-290-5877<br />
Mechanical Engineering Technology<br />
Employment designing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining mechanical systems and<br />
processes such as engines and control systems.<br />
Employment Opportunities: Work in manufacturing facilities, including aerospace and<br />
energy.<br />
AAS or Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $34,930-$48,681<br />
Program Contact: Dr. Leo Maganares, lmaganares@spcc.edu, 704-290-5890<br />
Massage Therapy<br />
Work as a massage therapist to provide methodical pressure, friction and kneading of the body for<br />
maintaining wellness or treating alterations in wellness (Graduates will be be eligible to take the<br />
Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEX).<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, spas, health<br />
and sports clubs.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $15,000-$50,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Mary Berger, mberger@spcc.edu, 704-290-5865<br />
Mechatronics<br />
Employment in the installation and repair of manufacturing equipment and automated machinery.<br />
Employment opportunities: Work in manufacturing facilities or as field service technician.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $18.95-$22.45/hr. 10<br />
Program Contact: Russell Carpenter, rcarpenter@spcc.edu, 704-246-0964<br />
Medical Assisting<br />
Employment as a multi-skilled healthcare professional performing administrative, clinical and<br />
laboratory procedures (Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical<br />
Assistants Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants).<br />
Employment opportunities: Physicians’ offices, health maintenance organizations, health<br />
departments, hospitals.<br />
AAS or Diploma<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $24,882-$35,882 11<br />
Program Contact: Lori Starnes, lstarnes@spcc.edu, 704-290-5825<br />
Medical Coding Specialist<br />
Employment as a medical coding specialist upon satisfactory completion of online medical<br />
courses and a passing grade on the American Academy of Professional Coders exam.<br />
Employment opportunities: Physicians’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes, coding<br />
consulting companies.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $20,090-$26,250 10<br />
Program Contact: Geri Duncan, gduncan@spcc.edu, 704-290-5221<br />
Medical Laboratory Assistant (a Medical Assisting certificate option)<br />
Employment performing routine medical laboratory testing and office tasks (Graduates may apply<br />
to take the AMT certification exam to become a Medical Laboratory Assistant.)<br />
Employment opportunities: Physicians’ offices and hospitals.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $19,000-$27,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Lori Starnes, lstarnes@spcc.edu, 704-290-5825<br />
Medical Office Administration<br />
Employment performing administrative and support functions in medical and other healthcare<br />
facilities.<br />
Employment opportunities: Medical and dental offices, hospitals, insurance companies,<br />
laboratories, medical supply companies, other healthcare-related organizations.<br />
AAS, Certificate, Medical Insurance Coding<br />
Diploma or Transcription Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $20,250-$41,506 10<br />
Program Contact: Cindy Crenshaw, ccrenshaw@spcc.edu, 704-290-5858<br />
704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300 I www.spcc.edu I <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I 11
Medical Sonography<br />
Employment as a medical sonographer or ultrasound technologist (Graduates are eligible to take<br />
examinations administered by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers)<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, physicians’ offices, mobile services, educational<br />
institutions.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $40,000-$75,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Janet Otton, jotton@spcc.edu, 704-290-5227<br />
Nursing Assistant I & II<br />
Employment as an NA I and II. Training and competency testing required for listing on NA Registry.<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, nursing homes, patients’ homes, physicians’<br />
offices.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $18,000-$30,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Debra Griffin, dgriffin@spcc.edu, 704-290-5217<br />
Nursing-Associate Degree<br />
A healthcare career as a nurse [Graduates of this program are eligible to take the National Council<br />
of State Boards of Nursing Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a registered nurse.]<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, physicians<br />
offices, community agencies.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $39,000-$71,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Joyce Long, j-long@spcc.edu, 704-290-5281<br />
Nursing-Practical<br />
Providing nursing care to children and adults [Graduates are eligible to apply to take the<br />
NCLEX-PN, which is required for practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN).]<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, long-term care<br />
facilities.<br />
Diploma<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $24,000-$40,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Joyce Long, j-long@spcc.edu, 704-290-5281<br />
Nursing-LPN Refresher<br />
Employment as a licensed practical nurse upon reinstatement of LPN license by N.C. Board of<br />
Nursing.<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, long-term care facilities.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $24,000-$40,000 7<br />
Program Contact: J oy ce Long, j -l ong@ spc c.e du, 704-290-5281<br />
Paralegal Technology<br />
Employment performing routine legal tasks and assisting with<br />
substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney.<br />
Employment opportunities: Private law firms,<br />
governmental agencies, banks, insurance agencies<br />
and other business organizations.<br />
AAS, Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $32,139-$41,117<br />
Program Contact: David Broome,<br />
dbroome@spcc.edu, 704-290-5862<br />
REAL (Rural Entrepreneurship through Action Learning)<br />
Self-employment in a business you own and operate using a business plan you develop while you<br />
are enrolled in the one-semester REAL program.<br />
Employment opportunities: Self-employment in a business you build.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: Varies according to type and success of business<br />
Program Contact: Dan Merle, dmerle@spcc.edu, 704-290-5219<br />
Real Estate Sales/Broker<br />
Upon passing the Real Estate Salesperson/Provisional Broker state exam, you will be qualified to<br />
work as a real estate agent renting, buying and selling property on a commission basis, and will<br />
attain provisional broker status.<br />
Employment opportunities: Real estate agencies.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $27,851 (average entry earnings) 10<br />
Program Contact: Geri Duncan, gduncan@spcc.edu, 704-290-5221<br />
School-Age Education<br />
Employment working with children in elementary through middle grades in diverse learning<br />
environments. Graduates are prepared to plan and implement developmentally appropriate<br />
programs in school-aged environments.<br />
Employment opportunities: Preschools, childcare programs, Head Start, public and<br />
private schools, public and private agencies, recreational centers<br />
AAS or Diploma or Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $14,545-$19,618<br />
Program Contact: Sharon Little, s-little@spcc.edu, 704-272-5399<br />
Solar and Wind Energy<br />
Employment with solar and wind companies requiring fundamental knowledge of installation and<br />
component functions.<br />
Employment opportunities: Residential and commercial installation, systems maintenance,<br />
troubleshooting, system design, sales and customer service.<br />
Continuing Education Program Certificate<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $30,000-$40,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Contact Dennis Baucom, dbaucom@spcc.edu, 704-290-5222<br />
Simulation and Game Development (Partnership with CPCC)<br />
Employment as designer, artist, animator, programmer, database administrator, tester, quality<br />
assurance analyst, engineer and administrator.<br />
Employment opportunities: Entertainment industry, the health care industry, engineering,<br />
forensics, education, NASA and government agencies.<br />
AAS<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $34,000 - $56,000 5<br />
Program Contact: Oscar Gonzalez, ogonzalez@spcc.edu, 704-290-5232<br />
Surgical Technology<br />
Employment assisting in the care of the surgical patient in the operating<br />
room and to function as a member of the surgical team (Graduates are<br />
eligible to apply to take the Liaison Council’s Certification Examination<br />
for Surgical Technologists.)<br />
Employment opportunities: Hospitals, clinics and other<br />
health related facilities<br />
Diploma<br />
Entry Salary ranges: $26,000-$42,000 7<br />
Program Contact: Carol Courtney,<br />
ccourtney@spcc.edu, 704-272-5421<br />
Web Design<br />
Employment in web design, flash animation and multi-media.<br />
Employment opportunities: Graphic design studios, advertising and marketing agencies,<br />
companies with in-house advertising departments, or self-employment.<br />
Certificate<br />
Entry salary ranges: $37,000-$50,000 12<br />
Program Contact: Linda Ward, lmward@spcc.edu, 704-290-5279<br />
North Carolina salary information taken from www.nccareers.org unless otherwise noted.<br />
1<br />
Results of a survey of local employers. 2 Information from www.ncpublicschools.org.<br />
3<br />
Information from aami.org. 4 Information from www.ncbionetwork.org. 5 Information from<br />
www.cbsalary.com. 6 Information from www.osp.state.nc.us/jobs/ 7 Information from NC Health<br />
<strong>Career</strong>s 2008-2010 published by N.C. Area Health Education Centers. 8 Information from<br />
www.acinet.org. 9 Information from www.nchealthcareers.com. 10 Information from<br />
Employment Security Commission of North Carolina. 11 www.aama-ntl.org 12 Information from<br />
webdesignersalary.net.<br />
SPCC A-Z salary information is designed to serve as a guide to students making career choices.<br />
Graduates may make more or less money than the figures cited and salaries are in no way<br />
guaranteed by <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>.<br />
12<br />
I <strong>Summer</strong> <strong>2012</strong> I <strong>Career</strong><strong>Focus</strong> <strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> I www.spcc.edu I 704-290-5100 or 704-272-5300
Need tuition assistance?<br />
Explore WIA funding available through Union County <strong>Community</strong> Action, Inc.<br />
(UCCA offers services to those who are low income or economically disadvantaged. Contact staff for qualifying process.)<br />
Visit www.ncstars.org to explore approved programs and schools for youth and adults.<br />
Explore Youth WIA Services:<br />
•<strong>Career</strong> Planning •Occupational Skills<br />
•On-the-Job Training (OJT) •Work-Related Activities<br />
•Training •<strong>Summer</strong> Employment Opportunities<br />
•Academic Learning •Supportive Services & Follow-Up<br />
Contact: Union County - Paula Holmes,<br />
Youth Development Specialist - 704-283-1114, ext. 239<br />
Anson County - Garrett Malone,<br />
Youth Development Specialist - 704-994-2328<br />
WIA adult participant taking courses in the HVAC program at SPCC.<br />
Explore Adult WIA Services:<br />
•Skill Upgrading & Retraining •Job Referral/Placement<br />
•<strong>Career</strong> Planning •Supportive Services<br />
•Employment Follow-Up •On-the-Job Training<br />
•Occupational Skills Training<br />
Contact: Michele W. Shepherd,<br />
Workforce Development Specialist - 704-283-7541, ext. 212<br />
or michele.shepherd@ncesc.gov<br />
Cleveland Craig, Workforce Development Specialist -<br />
704-283-1114, ext. 236 - or cleveland.craig@uccainc.org<br />
WIA youth participant taking online courses in the Veterinary Assistant<br />
program at SPCC.<br />
Union County<br />
<strong>Community</strong> Action, Inc.<br />
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program<br />
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.<br />
Prepared by Union County <strong>Community</strong> Action and funded by the Workforce Investment<br />
Act under contract with Centralina Development Consortium.<br />
WIA youth participant taking courses in the Auto Body Repair<br />
program at SPCC.<br />
UNION COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION, INC.
Get ready for <strong>Summer</strong> & Fall<br />
Steps to enroll:<br />
o Apply online at www.spcc.edu<br />
o Request transcripts–high school & college<br />
o Complete online orientation<br />
o Apply online for financial aid<br />
o Take placement test<br />
Register:<br />
May 21-24 (summer and fall)<br />
June 12-13, 26-27 (fall only)<br />
July 10-11, 24-25<br />
August 8-10<br />
Registration Locations:<br />
Old Charlotte Highway Campus,<br />
4209 Old Charlotte Hwy., Monroe<br />
L.L. Polk Campus, U.S. 74, Polkton<br />
Classes begin Wednesday, August 15.<br />
To learn more, call<br />
704-272-5300 Anson County<br />
704-290-5100 Union County<br />
www.spcc.edu<br />
The most up-to-date class schedule<br />
is always available at<br />
www.spcc.edu<br />
Registration for fall college-credit classes automatically<br />
enters you in a drawing for great prizes.<br />
Visit www.spcc.edu for more details.<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Piedmont</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
P.O. Box 126<br />
Polkton, NC 28135<br />
ECRWSS<br />
POSTAL CUSTOMER<br />
NON PROFIT ORG.<br />
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PAID<br />
ACADEMIC<br />
MARKETING SERVICE