Education
Smoky Mountain News
tion master of arts in teaching concentrations for people who already have bachelor’s degrees and want to become a teacher. The new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concentration will prepare people to teach middle or high school math or science, and the teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) concentration will prepare teachers to work with English language learners in grades K-12. Candidates must have an undergraduate degree in the major of the MAT concentration and must meet the prerequisite requirements of the department housing the concentration. The online programs are flexible and may be completed in as little as two years. Visit alternativelicensure.wcu.edu to review the specific requirements for each concentration.
Sign up for Head Start Mountain Projects’ Head Start and Early Head Start programs are now enrolling new students ages 3-5. The program has empty spots to fill for free, high quality childcare and school readiness for Haywood and Jackson counties operating from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. The program is designed to help lower income families living below the poverty line get a Head Start for school readiness. Childcare centers are located in Waynesville, Clyde, Canton, Sylva, and Cullowhee. Pre-K is available in Clyde, Waynesville and Sylva. For more information, call 828.452.1447 in Haywood County, or 828.586.2345 in Jackson County.
SCC revises plan for fall semester Southwestern Community College will start its fall semester as scheduled on Aug. 17, and officials are rolling out a number of schedule adjustments and format changes to help keep students and employees safe during the ongoing pandemic. Fall break has been canceled, and SCC will hold no in-person curriculum classes after Thanksgiving break. A “Flex and Finals Week” following Thanksgiving will allow students to remotely finish any pending course requirements. The final day of classes has been moved up to Dec. 4, two weeks earlier than originally planned. All curriculum classes will be web-supported, hybrid or web-centered, and no face-to-face classes will meet on Fridays. This means that while SCC is still offering a range of face-to-face classes, they will all have some level of online activity. SCC remains poised to immediately transition to a fully virtual college should federal, state or local conditions require such a move. All programs at SCC’s Public Safety Training Center are continuing to meet the region’s essential needs via inperson training.
HCC Foundation fund helps students Haywood Community College Foundation has been able to assist about 40 students through the HCC Cares Student Emergency Fund Campaign. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, student emergency needs have increased. Due to generous donors and grant funding, HCC students have received assistance with buying food and gas, as well as paying for utilities and rent. Additional donations from the community will enable HCC to provide assistance to students during the summer semester. These donations include grants from Sam’s Club of Asheville for $2,000 and the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina Emergency Disaster Response Fund for $3,000. At HCC, the goal is to assist students with
emergency needs so they can stay on track to complete the semester and achieve their educational goals. With higher education credentials, graduates are more likely to find a job that pays family-sustaining wages. For more information about HCC Cares, visit www.haywood.edu/financial-aid/scholarships and scroll past the scholarship information.
WCU selects chief marketing strategist Brian M. Mullen has been appointed to the new position of chief marketing and communications strategist at Western Carolina University. Mullen is currently the executive director of marketing at Lone Star College, a seven-campus, 99,000-student public community college system in Texas. A marketing and communications professional for more than 13 years, Mullen will begin his duties July 15. Mullens will oversee the design, development and management of a comprehensive integrated marketing and communications plan that will coordinate marketing- and communications-related activities across the university community. He will be responsible for brand development, brand management, market research and top-level messaging strategy.
New Century Scholars celebrate 25 years Twenty-five years ago, a college education really wasn’t within reach for hundreds of families in Jackson, Macon and Swain Counties. In 1995, Dr. Barry Russell, then-President of Southwestern Community College, and former Jackson County Superintendent, Dr. Charles McConnell, decided to find a way for deserving, high-potential students to achieve a college education. They approached community leaders to sponsor the program by donating $500 each (the cost of SCC tuition at the time), ensuring a two-year education at SCC for the first group of students.
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Through these donations, the program known as New Century Scholars was formed. As of 2020, more than 2,400 students have been able to change their lives through the program. In addition to last-dollar tuition support, NCS also provides resources and mentorship to students as they navigate middle and high school, engaging them in community service projects, professional development and networking opportunities to provide them with excellent educational and career experiences. For more information on how to contribute to NCS, contact Brett Woods, Director of the SCC Foundation, at b_woods@southwesterncc.edu or 828.339.4241.
Peter Hans named UNC president The University of North Carolina Board of Governors elected Peter Hans to serve as the president of the University of North Carolina System. President-elect Hans will assume this role effective Aug. 1, 2020. Hans’ extensive experience in higher education policy gives him a comprehensive understanding of North Carolina’s vast higher education landscape. He currently serves as president of the North Carolina Community College System, a role he has held since May 1, 2018. He also served a six-year term on the State Board of Community Colleges, where he was vice chair. As president of the NCCCS, Hans oversees 58 colleges across North Carolina and about 700,000 students, which is the third-largest system of higher education in the United States.
Become a teacher with new WCU program Becoming a teacher through Western Carolina University just got a little easier for people wanting to switch careers and enter high-demand fields of education. The College of Education and Allied Professions is offering new comprehensive educa-
Shining Rock Classical to hire school nurse In preparation for the return of students on campus in August 2020, Shining Rock Classical Academy: CFA will be staffing a full-time school nurse. The nurse will serve as a liaison with the Haywood County Health Department and facilitate the safe operations of school for both students and staff. SRCA Head of School Joshua Morgan stated, “While guidance from the state continues to take shape, it is clear that additional measures are going to be needed to promote student and staff safety. Bringing on staff a full-time medical professional is the only reasonable way to affirm that health procedures are being practiced at the beginning, as well as throughout the school day.” Procedures to sanitize routinely all classrooms, office areas, and school busses are also being reviewed to maximize safety. Once on staff later in the summer, the school nurse will be able to provide a medical perspective to these procedures in both planning and implementation. Enrollment continues for the 2020-21 school year for all grades. The first day of class for students will be Aug. 5.
WCU grad named UNC Presidential Scholar Annalee Blanks, a May 2020 graduate of Western Carolina University, has been selected as one of three University of North Carolina System presidential scholars. Blanks, who graduated from WCU in three years with Bachelor of Science degrees in history and political science, and a certificate in public history, will begin her one-year appointment in July. Presidential scholars provide a wide range of professional functions for the UNC system office, including interacting with UNC System President Tom Roper, his senior leadership and members of the UNC Board of Governors. They also contribute and work in areas that include education, public policy, research and data trends that affect higher education. Blanks plans to attend law school following the completion of her appointment.
