RichmondCC's Dual Enrollment Program Sees Rebound; New Courses and Digital Textbooks Introduced

Richmond Community College (RichmondCC) has seen a rise in students joining its dual enrollment program with public schools. This program lets high school students take college classes for free. Kevin Parsons, the Vice President for Instruction, shared these statistics at a recent Board of Trustees meeting. He mentioned that the program recovered from a decrease in numbers due to COVID-19. In fall 2019, 399 students from Richmond County were enrolled, compared to 394 in fall 2023. Spring 2024 saw a record 341 students, surpassing the previous high of 314 in spring 2020.

In Scotland County, the program also had record enrollments, with 226 students in fall 2023 and 185 in spring 2024. Dual enrollment and Early College students now constitute about 42 percent of RichmondCC’s college curriculum enrollment.

RichmondCC is also collaborating with Richmond Senior High School (RSHS) to provide a new pathway for eligible seniors. From fall 2024, these students can select from four study areas at RichmondCC while taking one core class at RSHS. The study areas are Building and Construction Trades, Electric Lineman, Machining, and Medical Assisting. The goal is to provide students with skills and certifications for the workforce upon graduation.

RichmondCC is also increasing its course offerings in Scotland County, adding more machining and welding classes. This is due to increased interest in these programs at Scotland High School.

RichmondCC is also addressing the regional teacher shortage through its Elementary Education Residency Licensure Certificate program. This program, which includes six online courses and personal coaching, prepares new elementary school teachers for their N.C. teaching license. The program is becoming popular as new teachers see the advantages of earning their teaching license through a residency program.

Lastly, RichmondCC is shifting to digital textbooks, which should save students money on book purchases. The college will use a company called BibliU to incorporate digital textbooks and other resources into classes. Students can still order a printed book if they wish.

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