Richmond Community College’s Basic Skills Program assisted nearly 300 people in getting their GED’s last year alone. The program also recently received high marks from the North Carolina Community College System during a performance review. Pictured are Basic Skills Instructor Phillip Covington assisting at the front table William Ard (near) and Bernita Hubbard, and on the back row Monet McDonald (near) and Cherie Bennett, with their GED studies.
The system conducted a performance review of the program, which it terms an audit.
In the audit, Associate Vice President for Basic Skills for the state system Randy Whitfield complimented RCC for “having a very-well organized (program) and is to be commended for meeting its program outcome measures.”
“Your program met all of the 13 program practices required by the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act,” Whitfield also wrote.
Those practices include having measurable goals, the ability to demonstrate effectiveness, the use of proven instructional practices, use of computers and other technologies and offering flexible schedules and support services.
RCC Public Information Officer Anne Morris said the college appreciates the kind words of state officials, but is focused on how students’ lives are transformed after participating in basic skills classes.
Chris Burr of Ellerbe got his GED from RCC, and went on to graduate recently with the highest GPA in the Associate’s degree in Nursing program at the college.
He said he benefited in multi-faceted ways from the training and education he received.
“Well, for starters it cut two years off I would’ve had to have been in high school,” Chris Burr said. “But it also with the GED, I got more credits to get into the program than I would have even taking honors classes at the high school.”
He explained it took him 11 days total to get his GED, and his score on the GED test gave him preference over some high school graduates to get into the nursing program.
However, he didn’t stop benefiting from the program after getting his GED. Burr s currently studying for board exams, then plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree at either UNC-Pembroke or Winston Salem State University.
“(The staff of RCC) were all very supportive,” he said.
Last year alone, 299 students earned their GED through RCC.
Kozma McLean, a former RCC GED graduate, taught many of those 299. After completing her GED, she chose to continue her education, and graduated with an Associate’s degree in Applied Science in Human Services Technology at the community college.
From there, she earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology from UNC-Pembroke, and is working as a basic skills instructor in Hamlet while working on her master’s degree.
“When I interviewed with the college, (Basic Skills Director Sherry Byrd) asked me why I wanted to work at RCC, and I told her it was very personal for me,” McLean said.
It is personal because it has allowed her to help others rise through the ranks the way she has.
“Right now, I’m going to get my master’s degree, but I’ve been on the other end of the spectrum,” she said. “I remember being a GED student and being in the desk, and I realize that these students have hopes and dreams and aspirations just like I did. I want to help them get the sense of accomplishment and self-gratification that I got when I went through this.”
She offers advice to those who may be considering entering the GED program, and for those who already have their GED’s.
“For those who don’t already have it, I’d just say don’t worry about what’s going on in your life right now, but focus on what you can make out of it ...” she said. “For those who already have it, don’t let anything stop you - continue on with your education. I always use myself as the example, I was once a GED student ... now I’m going to get my master’s. They can do it, too.”
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