Richmond CC, Johnston Community College reach agreement to expand telecommunications program

Submitted by Johnston Community College

HAMLET— Richmond Community College’s 911 telecommunications program will now be available to students at Johnston Community College after an official agreement was signed by college leaders recently.

Dr. Dale McInnis, president of Richmond CC, and Dr. Vern Lindquist, president of JCC, signed off on the partnership that will allow JCC students to enroll in the online program and complete an associate degree in 911 Communications & Operations.

“We believe in the power of collaboration to broaden horizons and empower our students to thrive in their chosen fields,” said Dr. Lindquist. “This agreement with Richmond Community College exemplifies our commitment to providing diverse pathways for educational and professional success and our dedication to crafting partnerships with our sister institutions in the Great 58.”

The online degree program developed by Richmond CC provides a pathway for individuals who are interested in starting a career in this field, as well as providing

skills enhancement for those already working as 911 telecommunicators. JCC students will complete a majority of the core courses and the work-based learning portion of the program through Richmond CC, while completing other general education requirements at JCC. JCC is the seventh community college to collaborate with RichmondCC on making the online associate degree program available to more communities across the state of North Carolina.

“We appreciate Johnston Community College embracing the idea of collaborating on an existing program versus building from the ground up,” McInnis said. “We had over 50 students from across the state enroll in the 911 degree program this past fall semester, and we look forward to accommodating residents of Johnston County with this vital career training.”

The idea for the college curriculum program was developed when the N.C. 911 Board reached out to Richmond CC about a need for standardization in training 911 telecommunicators, plus a need to help elevate this career field. Richmond CC worked closely with the N.C. 911 Board and the N.C. Department of Information Technology to construct the online program.

For more information about the 911 Communications & Operations degree, call Richmond CC at 910-4101700. For more information about JCC, visit www.johnstoncc.edu.