WINTERVILLE — Site preparation is underway at the future home of Pitt Community College’s Welding Technology program.
Since Monday, heavy machinery has been clearing trees, leveling ground and removing debris just beyond the left field fence of Minges-Overton Baseball Complex. When the $17.7 million-project has been completed in November 2025, Pitt will have 30,000 square feet of much-needed instructional space for what is presently the state’s largest welding program.
“Our program has been so restricted for the past 10 years due to lack of space, so it’s been exciting to think about the opportunities the new building presents,” says Keith Kinlaw, chair of PCC’s Welding Technology Department. “There’s programming we’ve wanted to add over the years but couldn’t because of space constraints. Being able to finally explore those options, knowing we’ll have the ability to offer them and further enhance training for our students, has been a welcome change.”
Pitt County Commissioners toured Pitt’s current welding facility two years ago. After their visit, they committed $16.4 million toward construction of the new building, which will feature two fabrication shops and 96 welding booths, including space for robotic welding instruction.
“The welding skills we teach help keep industry in this area,” Kinlaw said. “Those organizations know they can lean on us for staffing and future growth.”
Late-start classes mean still time to enroll for fall
PCC’s 2024 Fall Semester is underway, but opportunities remain for those still interested in taking classes.
According to Lori Preast, PCC Assistant Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction, Pitt is offering 14-, 12- and eight-week courses this fall. They begin Aug. 29, Sept. 16 and Oct. 16, respectively, and end Dec. 13.
“Late-start classes represent a shorter semester for students, so they require an extra measure of self-motivation and diligence for success,” Preast said.
The selection of late-start classes is wide-ranging, everything from “Introduction to Architectural Technology” and “Personal Health and Wellness” to “Computer Design Basics” and “Electronic Music.” While some courses are specific to associate degree curricula, others can be transferred to many of North Carolina’s public and private four-year institutions.
No matter which classes students choose, Preast says PCC offers support services — including tutoring, personal counseling and academic advising — to help them succeed. “Our goal is getting students on track and progressing toward a transfer degree or credential with labor market value,” she said.
To enroll in late-start classes, new students must complete a PCC admissions application and submit copies of their official high school transcripts to the college’s registrar’s office. Current students may register from an approved student education plan or by contacting their academic advisors.
More details and a list of late-start classes PCC is offering this fall are available at https://pittcc.edu/admissions/registration/late-start-classes/.
PCC continuing with much-needed transportation service
PCC and Pitt County are continuing a partnership this fall that’s been providing students a much-needed option for getting to and from campus.
Since January, Pitt Area Transit System (PATS) buses have been transporting students who live in Pitt County — but outside of Greenville city limits—from their homes to PCC instructional facilities. Dr. Brian Jones, interim Vice President of Student Development Services, says the service has proven to be an effective means of reducing barriers and increasing access to education.
In the spring and summer semesters, Jones said PATS made 1,700 trips to and from Pitt’s campus to drop off and pick up students from throughout Pitt County. He said students who have utilized PATS services have been between 18 and 39 years old and represent a wide variety of curricula, including HVAC, mechanical engineering, criminal justice, architectural technology, business administration and biotechnology.
“Without PATS, many of these students probably wouldn’t be able to pursue their studies at PCC,” Jones told Pitt County Commissioners during a meeting on campus earlier this year. “Students and their families are thankful for PATS transportation services, and PCC is grateful for this wonderful partnership with Pitt County and looking forward to the PATS collaboration continuing to grow in the future.”
Jones noted that students who live in Greenville continue to utilize the GREAT Bus, which makes stops on Pitt’s campus, and he added that Pirates Cove Student Living had established its own “Bulldog Express” shuttle to take students to and from PCC.
“Student surveys have consistently shown transportation to be one of the biggest obstacles our students face when they decide to pursue higher education,” Jones said. “PCC administrators worked with the City of Greenville years ago to establish the GREAT Bus option for Greenville residents, and now we have an agreement with the county that makes PATS a transportation option for Pitt County residents who live outside of Greenville. We recognize this doesn’t help everyone, but we are continuing to work on transportation options.”
To be eligible for PATS service, students must be at least 16 years old and live within Pitt County but outside of Greenville city limits. There is no cost to students to use the service, Jones says, adding that PATS will pick them up from their homes and take them to PCC’s main campus in Winterville or its Greenville Center on Memorial Drive. He said the buses would also take students back home from both locations, though pickup times vary based on the PATS schedule and where students live.
“We’ve already had several dozen students sign up for PATS service this fall,” Jones said. “If other students are interested in signing up for PATS or if they have questions about the service, they can reach out to me or Shannon Tillett and we will help them get everything set up.”
For more details on PATS service, students can email Tillett at sjtillett359@my.pittcc.edu or Jones at cbjones0288@my.pittcc.edu.
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