Wilkes Community College outlines program expansions, workforce partnerships to Alleghany County commissioners

Dr. Mike Rogers, president of Wilkes Community College, told the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners that the college is expanding career-technical offerings and strengthening workforce partnerships to meet local demand.

Rogers, who said he has served as WCC president for just under 10 months, described a three-pronged mission of transfer, career-and-technical education and workforce development and noted the college is in the middle of a SACSCOC (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges) reaffirmation and Quality Enhancement Plan process. “We just submitted on March 1 our compliance report, and we are awaiting the off-site review of that now,” Rogers said.

Why it matters: the college’s planned program growth — including a dental hygiene program, heavy-equipment operator training, expanded welding, and electrical and HVAC offerings — is intended to supply trained workers for local employers and to give county residents pathways to higher-paying jobs.

Rogers gave enrollment and credential figures: based on a three‑year average the college’s unduplicated curriculum enrollment is about 3,000 students, generating a little over 2,000 FTE; adding workforce students brings total FTE to about 2,800 and an average total enrollment figure stated as about 8,400. He said 83% of the college’s graduates are employed within one year and that more than $5 million in financial aid is distributed annually.

Rogers described specific program expansions and timelines. He said a dental hygiene program is scheduled to start in August 2025 and currently has about 100 applicants for 16 slots; the program’s clinic is slated to open in January (date not specified in the meeting). A heavy-equipment-operator program is planned for fall 2025 as a two-days-per-week option that will award two certificates and a diploma. Rogers said the college also is expanding construction, electrical and welding programs, citing a Lowe’s Foundation award of “over $500,000” to expand construction technology and an additional $200,000 award referenced for welding expansion. He said an ARC grant of $323,000 also supports expansion efforts.

Rogers highlighted recent transfer agreements that increase pathways for applied science (AAS) students, including a multi-program articulation agreement with East Tennessee State University and expanding transfer agreements with Appalachian State and East Carolina University. He said students who transfer from WCC have a reported 90.6% one‑year success rate at four‑year institutions.

The college was recognized for workforce work: Rogers said WCC and GE Aerospace will receive a Pinnacle Award in Raleigh on April 3 for workforce development.

Commissioner Garrison Wagner asked whether the college could open an auxiliary dental‑hygiene site at the Alleghany campus to handle overflow; Rogers said that is possible if funding, space, and accreditation approvals are available and observed that dental‑program accreditation requires appropriate operator-to‑student ratios and site approvals by the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Rogers repeatedly asked county officials and local businesses to partner on internships, advisory committees and placements so the college can align training to employer needs. He also noted community scholarships available through the Roaring Gap Foundation for Alleghany County students and invited commissioners to college events and career fairs.

The commissioners thanked Rogers and his staff for the presentation and for the college’s role in local workforce development.