South Piedmont Community College (SPCC) hosted over 115 prospective students looking to improve their skills and earn credentials during a recent multi-campus Open House.
The event occurred in Monroe, NC, at SPCC’s Old Charlotte Highway Campus and Tyson Family Center for Technology on Tuesday, March 14th. College leaders described the event as an opportunity to show the value we bring to our community, and the community seemed to respond positively.
“The open house allowed prospective students to come to our campuses, tour the facilities, meet with our admissions and financial aid teams, and learn about the various academic programs at the college,” Lauren Meseroll, SPCC Director of Recruitment and Enrollment Services, said. “Our goal was to allow people to see what we offer, ask questions, and envision what college life could look like for them.”
At the Old Charlotte Highway Campus, event attendees could learn about more than 20 academic programs, meet with counseling and advising staff, and submit an application during the four-hour event. College staff presented on several major programs, such as Associate in a Year, the Career & College Promise program, and its various health sciences programs.
Interested prospective students could get up close and personal with experiential spaces in the college where they could explore nursing labs, test out medical sonography simulators, and interact with mannequins.
“This event allowed people to get a real, hands-on experience with all that we have to offer,” Dr. Maria Pharr, SPCC President, said. “We had over 250 people at the open house this week, including prospective students and their families. At a time of declining enrollments, we see the opposite trend at SPCC.”
At the Tyson Family Center for Technology, faculty and staff met with local businesses and students to discuss skill-trades programs, apprenticeships, and corporate training opportunities. Attendees could also learn about the Small Business Center, which helps match local small businesses with support and resources. The Tyson Center houses the college’s multiple trades programs, including manufacturing, welding, and machining.
“We had several great conversations with potential industry partners where we were able to show them all the college does to support workforce development,” Chris Rivera, Vice President of Business Solutions, said. “From apprenticeship programs to corporate training and work-based learning, our goal is to connect employers and potential students to meet their hiring and professional development needs.”
SPCC serves Anson County and Union County and is one of four community colleges in North Carolina that have seen enrollment growth over the past four years. In the fall of 2022, SPCC set enrollment records for the college.
“During the open house, we received more than 50 applications from students and heard from several families that they were excited to learn more about what we offer,” Meseroll said. “Our primary message all night was: tell us what you’re interested in, and we’ll help you figure out how to get there.”
Meseroll added, “even if you missed the open house, you can apply any time. We encourage any interested students to message us, come to campus, and learn more about the college.”
SPCC has a rolling admissions process and offers classes year-round, from traditional 16-week semesters to programs as short as four weeks. To learn more about the various programs at the college, visit spcc.edu or call 704-290-5100.