Hathcock: WCC-Demopolis offers quality, affordable education
Blaine Hathcock is witness to a “tremendous amount of growth” since he became the Demopolis campus director of Wallace Community College last year.
When he started, the campus had three students. In the spring semester this year there were some 100. “It’s been an interesting deal.”
Hathcock, speaking to the Demopolis Rotary Club Wednesday, outlined the progress and challenges for the local campus, the benefits for both students and the community and his visions for its future.
The Demopolis campus is a branch of WCC in Selma. Until it receives official certification, however, WCC-Demopolis can offer only 49 percent of the courses needed for a student to receive an associate degree.
Once the local institution gets that certification, whole degree programs can be offered, which will make a terrific difference for both the community and the students.
Hathcock said in addition to “a lot of paperwork,” certification requires a site visit from educators selected from around the county. To avoid having to arrange two site visits, WCC is waiting until the old National Guard Armory on U.S. Highway 43 is renovated and set up for technical training. The college bought the building almost two years ago to offer students the chance to learn welding, industrial maintenance, HVAC, nursing and other technical skills that are in high demand.
“It’s been a slow go,” especially with funding since technical courses require a lot of money for “big ticket items” that such training requires.
WCC-Demopolis offers short-term certificate courses in welding and Commercial Driver License, now held at the former New Era building on Cedar Street. The college offers many scholarship opportunities, Hathcock said. The recent eight-week short-term courses cost $3,000 each, but every student had a full scholarship.
Community colleges offer flexibility in providing courses that local business and industry need. “Industry drives our programs,” Hathcock said. “We want to be responsive” to what businesses need.
Almost all the courses now offered in Demopolis are academic and can be transferred to any other state school of higher education. Many of those taking courses are dual enrollment students enrolled in county schools, includent Demopolis High where Hathcock served as principal for four years. Students beginning in 10th grade can take college-level courses that also count toward high school graduation.
DHS, he continued, has teachers in every area that are certified in dual enrollment education, a rarity in many rural communities.
When they graduate, some high school students already will have the equivalent of their first year of four-year college courses completed, Hathcock said. It’s a boon to parents who might have to struggle to pay for college. Community college costs per credit hour are considerably less than at four-year institutions in the state.
“Community college is a steal,” he said. “As a principal I was a proponent of (dual enrollment), but as a parent, my pocketbook is a real proponent.”
WCC-Demopolis also offers adult education courses, including instruction for a GED, WorkKeys and computer literacy.
While there are 130 college campuses in Alabama, there is none closer than 45 miles to Demopolis, Hathcock said. “Having access to quality education is a big deal.”
WCC-Demopolis provides accessibility to many more rural students. It offers smaller classes taught by local teachers. The local campus serves seven school systems in Marengo, Greene, Hale and Sumter counties.
The pandemic “has made us think outside the box,” he went on. Thanks to special remote learning hookups, students don’t have to be on campus to take courses and interact with their instructors.now