DOBSON — Surry Community College is taking a more total team approach to its off campus centers with a series of four, One Stop Shop events.

Wood said prospective students to the college can talk with representatives from areas that include admissions, financial aid, career counseling, continuing education. Interested persons can apply for admission and financial aid at these one stop shops and can also take academic placement tests, meet with a class adviser, register for classes, learn abut payment plans and also learn about corporate and continuing education programs and certifications.

“We have hosted lots of events in the past at our off site centers but doing this in a collaborative way is different,” said Surry Community Vice President of Curriculum Programs Dr. Jami Woods. “We have directors at these centers constantly to help those wanting information about SCC but this is a team approach where we are sending additional resource persons to help.”

The first one stop shop is scheduled for Dec. 6 at the Yadkin Center in Yadkinville. It will be held from 1- 6 p.m. The center’s address is 4649 US Highway 601 and the telephone number of the center is 336-386-3580. The second one stop shop is slated for Dec. 10 at the Pilot Mountain Center from 1-6 p.m. The center is located on 612 Main Street in Pilot Mountain and the number there is 336-386-3580.

The final two one stop shop events are scheduled to be held Dec. 11 and 13. The Dec. 11 one stop shop will be held at the Mount Airy Center from 1-6 p.m. at 1220 State Street. The number of the Mount Airy Center is 336-386-3680. On Dec. 13 a one stop shop will be held at the Elkin Center from 1-6 p.m. The Elkin Center is located on 1461 Bridge Street and the number there is 336-386-3605.

Woods said it would be helpful to those wanting to know about financial aid to bring their 2011 tax returns and W2s to the one stop shops even though these documents are not required to begin the application process for financial aid.

“Interested people should know we will have career counseling available at the one stop shops,” continued Woods. “Our representatives can tell them about programs at SCC and help them select programs that best fit their interests. They will have the opportunity to meet with student development counselors that they could stick with for the rest of their college careers if they wish.”

She also said information on payment plans for the college will be available. Woods said the reason for this collaborative effort was a simple one.

“We just want to be accessible to these centers,” said Woods. “That’s a huge part of why we’re going out. We are in a prime point to offer students education that’s affordable as well as helping them find jobs. Whatever their goal is, you can start here and lay a foundation to go to any university you want to go to.”

Woods agreed this “awakening” about community colleges has become popular politically with it being favored by the current presidential administration and by media reports of graduates of some universities not seeing financial returns for the money spent as tuition rises.

“It’s an exciting time to be at a community college,” said Woods. She said that locally, she hadn’t seen much of a demographic change in students following the loss of many manufacturing jobs.

“We are trying to draw more people from this group,” added Woods. “There’s a lot of potential there that folks don’t recognize.”

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.