VGCC selected to share Best Practices for Student Success at Statewide Summit
Officials from Vance-Granville Community College offered tips to their colleagues from across the state at the inaugural NC Community Colleges Performance Partnership Summit, held at the Embassy Suites in Cary on July 31. The college was asked to present after recently being recognized as a leader in preparing students to succeed on certification tests.
The North Carolina Community College System named VGCC a “mentor college” when it comes to best practices in passing rates on various licensure exams that the state requires students to take prior to entering their profession.
The presentation at the summit, entitled “Licensure Pass Rates Guided by Educational Excellence,” was given by VGCC Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas, Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Angela Gardner-Ragland, Dean of Continuing Education Dale Fey, Public Services department chair Steven Hargrove and Cosmetology program head Tomeka Moss. The VGCC team gave an overview of seven programs: Basic Law Enforcement Training , Cosmetology , Detention Officer Training , Emergency Medical Technician (Basic and Paramedic levels), Associate Degree (Registered) Nursing , Practical Nursing and Radiography .
Over the past five years, VGCC students from each of these programs have consistently met or exceeded the 80th percentile on the licensure pass rate. The speakers shared best practices that have contributed to student success, and ways that the programs are seeking to improve. Among the examples were intensive test preparation and remediation, mock exams, individualized student service and community partnerships.
The state’s most recent Performance Measures for Student Success report found that 88.3% of VGCC students passed their licensure/certification exams on the first attempt during that year. The average score for the community college system was 83.3%. Among other highlights, 100% of VGCC students have passed the Detention Officer Certification exam each year since 2010-2011, and the passing rate on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exam for VGCC Radiography students has been between 95% and 100% each of the past five years.
“As we strive to continuously improve as a college, we are proud that Vance-Granville students and graduates continue to succeed on the certification exams that allow them to start their careers,” Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, said. “Our faculty and staff have been recognized among the best in the state for excellence in educating, inspiring and supporting their students.”
The purpose of the Summit was to connect colleges in meaningful conversations about how to improve results on the various performance measures used by the state to gauge student success. The event attracted almost 450 faculty and staff members from all 58 North Carolina community colleges. Dr. Lawrence Rouse, president of James Sprunt Community College, was the keynote speaker, while Dr. Scott Ralls, president of the N.C. Community College System , addressed the attendees during lunch.
Above: VGCC faculty and staff leaders speaking to their counterparts from across North Carolina at the recent Performance Partnership Summit included, from left, Public Services department chair Steven Hargrove, Dean of Continuing Education Dale Fey, Dean of Business and Applied Technologies Angela Gardner-Ragland, Dean of Health Sciences Angela Thomas and Cosmetology program head Tomeka Moss. (VGCC photo)
