Student Life

NCC Tailors Offerings to Student Needs

Many people think summers are quiet at most colleges. That has not been the case this year at Nash Community College. Preparing for our largest semester required growth, new strategies and renewed energy. With construction projects including renovations, a new road, two roundabouts, and a new building on the horizon, the faculty and staff are excited and ready to face the year ahead!

The College’s growth is due in part to its continual focus on providing students the tools they need in order to be successful. Nash Community College is committed to graduating every student. To work toward this aim, the College has to listen to what students are saying. To that end, NCC’s administration has re-examined how instruction is delivered and how the College seeks to meet student needs. Colleges no longer have the luxury to implement the same strategies year after year.

For the past three years, Nash students have returned to find ongoing physical and instructional improvements on campus. Earlier this month, the College began soliciting contractors for the new Continuing Education and Public Services Building. The first phase of this process started with the purchase of 25 acres of adjacent property in January 2010. The building plans are complete for a 78,000 square foot facility including 400 parking spaces. The addition of the new building will allow re-purposing of 30,000 square feet to accommodate more students and new programs. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held later this year marking the official beginning of the new Continuing Education and Public Services building construction.

The College tailors its offerings to meet the complex demands of a modern workforce and is prepared to meet the evolving needs of its students and community. This fall, students entering curriculum level English are benefiting from a new computer lab where they will receive one-on-one instruction. Instructors solicit feedback, practice peer teaching and learning and self-evaluation while experiencing various types of instructional techniques, both traditional and non-traditional. The lab is equipped with 32 desktop computers, 16 laptops, and interactive projectors for enhanced teaching and learning.

Upstairs in the same building, Computer Information Technology students are utilizing a new lab featuring an interactive multi-touch whiteboard (also dubbed as the largest iPad in Nash County), three additional 60-inch and 70 inch wall mounted displays. Thirty-six computers are arranged in learning pods, a methodology and learning layout that has seen great success in other instructional labs.

Additional indoor and outdoor seating at the College’s café and a renovated Gravely Foundation Student Lobby offer students more common areas, encouraging socialization and interactive collaborative work.The College is redefining its core by redeveloping instructional methods and creating a helpful, inviting atmosphere inside and outside of the classroom to nurture learning and facilitate success.

In effort to meet students where they are, Nash has implemented a new technology and communication channels. The institutional technology department has increased the campus-wide use of Movi, a technology extending access to students on and off campus, while enhancing their experience with lecture capture tools. The College now offers a total of 10 interactive classrooms. Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing students are benefiting from three dimensional (3D) printing.

The College’s social media footprint continues to expand as students take advantage of these platforms. Updates about campus happenings are disseminated regularly through NCC’s official Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram accounts. An emergency text alert system is available for students, parents, faculty, staff and community members to opt in to receive emergency and inclement weather messages via cell phone. Those who wish to subscribe may visit www.nashcc.edu/news and then click on the SMS icon and follow the instructions. Only critical messages will be sent via text alert. All of the aforementioned tools, and a news RSS feed, are accessible on the College’s Newswire at www.nashcc.edu/news.

For students seeking Continuing Education opportunities, a variety of new special interest classes like Wine Tasting, Fall and Holiday Appetizers, Entertaining, Beer Brewing, Beginner Photography, Herbs, Container Gardening have been favorites among community members. Registration is open now for many Continuing Education classes. Whether you are interested in taking a class, earning a degree or simply exploring all your community has to offer, we invite you to call 252-451-8235 for more information or to schedule a tour. You will experience firsthand why students choose Nash.