The first-ever meeting of the VGCC Paralegal Technology Program Advisory Committee was held Oct. 29. Members include, seated from left, Becky Thomas, manager of Staffmark in Henderson, attorney Michael Waters of Perry & Waters in Henderson, paralegal Gina Phillips of the District Attorney’s office in Oxford (advisory committee chair), assistant district attorney Kristin Peebles (vice-chair), and Franklin County Clerk of Superior Court Patricia B. Chastain. Standing, from left, are VGCC Paralegal Technology student Sabrina Steuer of Youngsville and program head/instructor Antoinette C. Dickens. Other members of the committee not pictured are attorney Thomas H. Clifton, Granville County Clerk of Superior Court JoAnn Averette and Vance County Clerk of Superior Court Deborah W. Finch. (VGCC photo)
Citizens from Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties came together at the Main Campus of Vance-Granville Community College on Oct. 29 as the college’s advisory committees held their annual meetings.
VGCC’s 38 advisory committees are made up of people from the communities served by the college who have worked in the fields for which the college offers training. Committees are also established to advise the VGCC campuses in Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, as well as the Small Business Center and other departments. Many committee members are VGCC alumni. Each fall, these committees meet on campus with the heads of the programs they advise.
At the Oct. 29 meetings, VGCC faculty and staff communicated with advisory committee members about new developments in the academic programs, about how to tailor classes and training to meet employment needs, and about changes in the workplace. Committee members made suggestions on what the college should be doing to enhance or adapt instruction. One group, the Paralegal Technology program advisory committee, held its inaugural meeting, since that new degree program started in Aug. 2013. Gina Phillips, a paralegal with the District Attorney’s office based in Oxford, was elected the first chair of the advisory committee, while Kristin Peebles, an assistant district attorney based in Louisburg, was elected vice-chair.
Stacey Smith of Oxford (right), a VGCC Culinary program graduate and member of the advisory committee for the Workforce Investment Act department, prepares to sample beef brisket prepared by current Culinary students for the reception preceding the advisory committee meetings. (VGCC photo)
Students in VGCC’s Culinary Arts program prepared hors d’oeuvres and desserts for a reception in the Civic Center, preceding the meetings. The menu featured tri-color cheese tortellini, beef brisket served with a creamy horseradish and a slider roll, chicken with vegetable lo mein and Asian fried pork egg rolls, and various pastries and confections.
During the reception, Dr. Stelfanie Williams, the president of VGCC, thanked the advisory committee members for serving and supporting the college. “Your input ensures that our programs are relevant, well-resourced, and represent the needs of our workforce,” President Williams said. She also summarized the college’s new strategic plan, called the “Vanguard Vision,” for the attendees. “As advisory committee members, you have a special role and relationship to the college, and you can help us fulfill this mission and realize the vision,” she said. “You can do so by advising the college on program development, by advocating on behalf of the college and education, and by connecting us to partners and resources.”