RCC gathering public feedback for strategic plan

Janet Imrick

Randolph Hub

Randolph Community College will be holding public input sessions in February and March to develop a strategic plan.

Linda Brown, strategic planning and development officer, said to anticipate system-wide upgrades, expansions, and renovations at RCC. She presented an overview to the Randolph County Board of Commissioners, the Asheboro City Council, and the Trinity Town Council during their regular February meetings.

She said RCC's intention is that it aligns with the county's plans for economic development and community well-being. At the commissioners' meeting, Brown said, "The county and the region are changing. Within a 35-minute drive of Asheboro, four companies alone, representing $4 billion in capital investment, are bringing over 60,000 new jobs. These companies represent generational wealth for families in Randolph County."

Brown highlighted projects that are already under way: 

— A new satellite campus off US-421 in Liberty with proximity to the Toyota and Wolfspeed sites.

— The creation of the Applied Industrial Artificial Intelligence Center of North Carolina.

— The expansion of the Emergency Services Training Center to be capable of training 1,400 people a year.

The college launched RCC 2.0. in January. Brown said this initiative will ensure the college remains relevant, creates career opportunities, and stays committed to the needs of local communities, students and employees. "Randolph Community College is an economic engine for prosperity," she said at the Asheboro city council meeting.

The strategic plan started in November and has entered its second phase of reviewing RCC's vision, mission and values. The next step is to see input, scheduled for February and March. Brown said RCC plans to hold about 20 public meetings throughout Randolph County. Brown said, "This is a transparent process, and we will be engaging everyone to get involved."

The remaining meetings scheduled are:

• February 20: Ramseur Town Council
• February 26: Liberty Town Council
• February 27: Archdale City Council
• March 11: Franklinville Town Council
• March 12: Seagrove Town Council Meeting
• March 14: Asheboro City Schools Board of Education
• March 18: Public Comment Period at Randolph County School System

Their timeline is to have a strategic plan adopted by the Board of Trustees in May.

RCC has appointed a Strategic Plan Steering Committee and Executive Board. The strategic plan will be executed by Dr. Shah Ardalan, who became president of RCC in May.

To share feedback on the RCC strategic plan, email StrategicPlan@Randolph.edu.

For a meeting schedule and feedback form, go to https://www.randolph.edu/about-us/24strategicplan/index.aspx.