Workforce Development and Continuing Education
Program Information
Lenoir Community College offers comprehensive programs based on the needs and interests of adults in Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties. Programs are designed to provide basic education for Grades 1-8 for adults; to provide high school courses of study opportunities in preparation for a high school equivalency certificate; to provide cultural and community service programs; and to provide upgrading and vocational courses designed to prepare students for new jobs or allow them to perform better in their present job with industry-recognized credentials. The Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division is committed to providing programs and activities to enhance social, cultural, economic, and leadership growth, as well as enhance the quality of life of the citizens, the community, and the state. This mission is fulfilled in the following ways:
- Providing education, training, and retraining for the workforce;
- Maintaining effective and cooperative partnerships with businesses, industries, and various community agencies and organizations; and
- Utilizing systematic assessment for planning and evaluation.
Workforce Development and Continuing Education consists of single courses designed specifically for the purpose of training individuals for employment, upgrading the skills of persons presently employed, and retraining people for new employment in occupational fields.
General Enrollment
Any individual who is 16 years of age or older is eligible to register for classes. Please note that some courses may have program-specific admission requirements or limited enrollment capacity. For details regarding course prerequisites or availability, students are encouraged to contact the appropriate program coordinator.
Special Admission of Minors
Applicants between the ages of 16 and 18 may qualify for admission to designated programs. For admission to Basic Skills programs, the applicant must be separated from the public school system and must provide documentation of release. Depending on the course or program, a notarized petition from a parent or legal guardian may also be required.
Attendance
Absences disrupt students' progress in a course and diminish the quality of group interaction. Generally, students must attend 80% of the class to attain credit for completion of a continuing education class. However, a more stringent attendance policy may apply for courses given for certification, licensure, or teacher renewal. Students should refer to the course syllabus for the attendance policy.
For online learning, attendance/participation directly affects the students' success in the course. Students in an online learning course will establish an initial enrollment date by completing a course introductory activity (enrollment assignment). The introductory activity, posted in the course management system (Moodle), is to be completed by the end of the add period (census date). If the assignment is not completed by the census date, the student may be removed from the class.
In an online learning course, attendance is assessed by completed assignments. Students who do not participate for two consecutive weeks, or who miss 15% of the assignments (or three weeks total, whichever is greater), as determined by the instructor, may be withdrawn from the course. To minimize the change of being withdrawn from and online learning course, students should keep their instructor informed of issues that may affect attendance/participation.
Continuing Education Drop/Withdraw Policy
Before the class starts: The student must contact the Instructor or Class Coordinator by email to drop the course - will receive 100% refund of paid registration fees.
From the first day of class through the census date: The student must contact the Instructor or the Class Coordinator by email to drop the course - will receive 75% refund of paid registration fees.
After the census date: The student can request to be withdrawn from a course by emailing their Instructor or Class Coordinator. The Instructor must complete the Continuing Education Official Drop/Withdrawal form, and the student will receive a grade of W. No refund will be provided.
Continuing Education Units
The Continuing Education Unit (CEU) is used as the basic means for recognizing the College's offering of noncredit classes, courses, workshops, seminars, and other programs. A unit is defined as 10 contact hours of participation in an organized continuing education experience. The two types of continuing education units are individual and institutional.
The following criteria are utilized for the awarding of individual CEUs:
- The noncredit activity is planned in response to an assessment of educational needs for a specific target population.
- There is a statement of objectives and rationale.
- Content is selected and organized in a sequential manner.
- There is evidence of pre-planning, which should include an opportunity for input by a representative of the target group, the faculty, and continuing education personnel.
- The activity is of an instructional nature and is sponsored or approved by an academic or administrative unit of the College best qualified to determine quality and approve the resource personnel.
- There is a provision for registration for individual participants.
- Appropriate evaluation procedures are utilized and criteria are established for awarding CEUs to individual students prior to the beginning of the activity. This may include the evaluation of student performance, instructional procedures, and course effectiveness.
Noncredit offerings that do not meet the individual CEU criteria are accounted for only in terms of the institutional CEU. No individual CEUs are awarded. Normally, these noncredit offerings are less structured and more informal in nature. Institutional CEUs must meet the following criteria:
- The activity is a planned educational experience or a continuing educational experience.
- The activity is sponsored by an academic or administrative unit of the College best qualified to determine quality and approve the resource personnel.
- Record of attendance is required by the College and a file of program materials is maintained by the College for special activities. Neither individual nor institutional CEUs are normally used to recognize or account for participation in entertainment, social, or athletic activities.
Career Readiness Certification (NCRC)
The National Career Readiness Certificate is a portable national credential that promotes skills and career development for individuals and confirms to employers that they possess basic workplace skills in Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. The NCRC is based on the ACT WorkKeys® system, a nationally recognized, EEOC-compliant, industry-driven system of job profiling, assessment, and instructional support. The system awards four levels of certification - Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The National Career Readiness Certification is available at the Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Career Centers.
Fire Service Training Program
Firefighting techniques, pump operations, and fire control methods are taught by certified instructors in fire service training.
Grading System
The grading system for continuing education classes, when used, is as follows:
| P |
Pass, satisfactory completion of coursework |
| F |
Fail, unsatisfactory achievement in coursework |
| I |
Incomplete (If the instructor determines that the student is able to submit remaining work, the instructor may change the grade within the next semester upon completion of remaining coursework. At the end of the next semester, if coursework has not been completed, the grade will be changed to F) |
| W |
Withdrew (The student has formally requested to withdraw from the course) |
| AU |
Audit (No CEUs earned) |
| S |
Satisfactory achievement in coursework (Some programs may be required to report a grade of S rather than P) |
| U |
Unsatisfactory achievement in coursework (Some programs may be required to report a grade of U rather than F) |
Certain occupational extension courses may require that students be tested for knowledge and/or competency. In those situations, the grading system for curriculum instruction may be substituted.
Healthcare Programs
Lenoir Community College offers a variety of medical programs through Workforce Development and Continuing Education: Emergency Medical Services starting with the Emergency Medical Responder through Paramedic in preparation for state certification. The College offers credentialing and recertification courses in EMS for all levels of EMS providers as well as the following specialty courses: Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Life Support, and Pediatric Advanced Life Support and many others. In addition, the following health-related classes are available: Sleep/Neurology Technician, Nurse Aide I & II, Nurse Aide Refresher, Pharmacy Technician, Health Unit Coordinator, Medical Terminology, Medical Coding and Billing, Geriatric Aide, Home Health Aide, RN Refresher, Medical Assisting Refresher, Phlebotomy, Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, and Psychiatric Technician. The College continues to add offerings as courses become available and strives to keep up with the most up-to-date information and equipment to ensure a quality education in the medical field.
Human Resources Development Program (HRD)
The Human Resources Development (HRD) Program is designed to train unemployed, underemployed, or dislocated adults with job-seeking skills and assist them in upgrading their vocational skills to secure employment. Training may consist of an introduction to basic computer skills, completing application forms, communication skills, letter writing, resume writing, career goal setting, and interviewing techniques. The ultimate goal of the HRD program is to train those who need help securing employment. Registration fees are waived for those who qualify. Pre-assessments, prior to Career Readiness Certification testing, are recommended.
Law Enforcement Program
The Law Enforcement program is designed to upgrade the training of law enforcement departments throughout Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties. It consists of single courses selected to meet the needs of law enforcement.
Location Information
Classes are held on the main campus of Lenoir Community College, Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center, Greene County Center, Greene County Workforce Development Center, Jones County Center and the Maysville Center in Jones County, La Grange Center, and at selected locations throughout Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties.
NCEdge Customized Training Program
Customized Training Programs support the economic development efforts of the State by providing education and training opportunities for eligible businesses and industries. The programs were developed in recognition of the fact that one of the most important factors for a business or industry considering locating, expanding, or remaining in North Carolina is the ability of the State to ensure the presence of a well-trained workforce. The programs are designed to react quickly to the needs of businesses and to respect the confidential nature of proprietary processes and information within those businesses. The purpose is to provide customized training assistance in support of full-time production and direct customer service positions created in North Carolina.
Other Costs
For a class in which a textbook is to be used, the student is responsible for acquiring a personal copy of the textbook. If a student wishes to construct a project in class, which will become personal property when completed, the student is to supply all materials. Other fees, such as technology fees, supply fees, liability insurance, or cost of printed materials, may be required for some courses.
Small Business Center
The Lenoir Community College Small Business Center is committed to rendering professional services at no cost to the owners and prospective owners of small businesses in Lenoir, Greene, and Jones Counties by providing confidential individual counseling, and by offering a variety of seminars, workshops, and webinars that are specifically geared to business ownership and operation. To ensure our clients have access to the many available opportunities to start, grow, and expand their businesses, the SBC also works in cooperation with several Federal, State, and local agencies, and with some private organizations that provide information, support, and assistance to small businesses in our coverage area.
Trades and Transportation Programs
Additional programs that are offered include automotive, welding, HVAC, Aviation Airframe & PowerPlant, Truck Driver Training (CDL), and more.
Waiver of Responsibility
Some programs offer students the opportunity for work-based learning experiences in the classroom and lab environments. Anyone receiving services from such College programs is responsible for payment of material costs. The College assumes no responsibility for the quality of work performed or for damages sustained while in the learning environment.
When Classes Begin
Classes are offered based on student and labor market demand once sufficient interest is expressed. Many classes are scheduled when the regular college semester begins. Every effort is made to arrange courses for the convenience of students.
Work-Based Learning and Job Placement Services
Work-Based Learning is designed to enable students to receive college credit for working in jobs that are learning experiences and that are related to the curriculum in which they are enrolled. This practical experience is vital to students' development by supplementing theoretical knowledge acquired in the classroom. Job sites become laboratories where classroom concepts can be utilized and tested.
Work-Based Learning is open to students in identified programs. College personnel will assist the student in identifying a job that meets the criteria for eligibility. A student may also use the job in which presently employed if this job meets the criteria. Numerous advantages accrue from such an approach to learning: career direction for participating students, a skilled workforce for employers, and an avenue to connect the College to the community. A student may earn Work-Based Learning credit according to approved curriculum standards for the student's curriculum. Students should check with their advisors for information regarding those guidelines. Additional information may be secured from the Lancer Career Connections Office. Comprehensive employment services are available through the NCWorks Career Center located on the College's main campus and on the campuses of the Jones and Greene County Centers.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
WIOA is a federally funded program that provides employment and training services through the local Lenoir County Career Center for youth, adult, or dislocated workers. WIOA offers a mix of employment, training, and job placement services. Participants may access Individual Training Accounts to assist with tuition, fees, books, supplies, and accident insurance. Job attainment, job retention, and increased earnings for participants are goals of the WIOA program.