Hathcock shares vision of WCC Demopolis

Blaine Hathcock made the formal announcement of becoming Demopolis campus director of Wallace Community College Tuesday at the Demopolis Higher Education Center.

He stressed his commitment to the school, to the community and to the future of West Alabama as he told of his plans for the campus.

Hathcock has served as principal of Demopolis High School for the last four years and at Demopolis Middle School four years before that. He said it is very important to have a viable community college in Demopolis which “can be a tremendous asset” to the region.

Hathcock not only will oversee classes at the Demopolis High Education Center but will direct instruction at the new technology center. WCC recently purchased the National Guard Armory building on U.S. Hwy. 43. When renovation is complete, the career tech program now housed at the former New Era building will be moved to provide an expansive career technology program.

Joining Hathcock at the press conference Tuesday morning, Dr. James Mitchell, president of WCC, said it had always been part of his plan to have an education center in west Alabama, specifically in Demopolis.

“I saw the potential here,” he said.

Since WCC took over the Higher Ed Center in August 2019, it has been doing a lot of groundwork in preparation for expansion in order “to make this a full-service campus,” Mitchell continued. “Everything can’t be done from Selma.”

Part of that plan was to have a campus director from the community and to provide the opportunity for the campus to become “a center of excellence.”

Both Hathcock and Mitchell said WCC will succeed where previous colleges have not because of the commitment of vision, time and money to the program.

“Failure is not an option,” said Hathcock.

He said the Demopolis campus will provide education on two fronts, academics and technical training. He will be working with K-12 school systems in Marengo and surrounding counties to let them know what WCC Demopolis will offer.

One of the programs that will continue is dual enrollment. High school students who take part can graduate with up to two years of college credit.

Initially the school will offer the basic four subjects of language, science, math and social studies. They are transferable to any other college campus and are needed for all areas of study, he explained.

Hathcock also said having someone from the community as director serves the “need to put a face with the school.”

The new director said WCC Demopolis will work out ways to serve people in the region who want to go back for a degree or further education. He is looking at evening classes, ones that could be held on Saturday, on-line instruction or hybrids of all of them.

“I’m an advocate of ‘you build it, they will come’,” he said.

Both Mitchell and Hathcock said staffing of the campus will be with local residents wherever possible. “Hiring great people makes a great organization,” said Hathcock.

The director already is completing the groundwork and getting authorization to open a nursing program not only for those entering the field but others who want to advance their career.

Demopolis Mayor John Laney said the Higher Ed Center has “passed through a lot of different hands” since it first got started. With new leadership in place, there is stability.

Chuck Smith, who was instrumental in getting the Higher Ed Center in Demopolis and now serves on the Community College Board of Trustees, said money has been set aside to help the Demopolis campus of WCC become state-of-the-art.

Summer classes at WCC Demopolis start next week.