Like any group of vessels sailing into uncharted waters, 12 community colleges in western North Carolina have decided that the best way to find successful passage is by communicating with each other.

The unexplored territory these colleges are navigating through is the world of electronic-commerce (e-commerce), including both the training and the development of new business opportunities for the region. Through a website called the Western North Carolina e-commerce Development (WNC12) project, these institutions are working together to develop programs that meet the unique needs of the individual colleges as well as sharing information and techniques that meet common needs across the region.

“Ultimately, the goal of this program is to stimulate economic development in our service area and in the service areas of all our community college partners in the western part of North Carolina,” said Dr. Cecil Groves, president of SCC. “Because there is no way to know all of the potential challenges and obstacles that are ahead of us, the smartest thing we can do is work together and share solutions about things that will work. We all benefit from this cooperative effort.”

The lead agent for the project is Blue Ridge Community College, which led the cooperative grant-writing process that ultimately secured the funding for WNC12. The website is hosted in a “Superserver” at Southwestern Community College, which last year unveiled the state’s first e-commerce programs — for both degree-seeking students and business professionals. Also located at SCC is the project’s web developer, Ryan Schwiebert, who has overseen the website since May.

“The Superserver housed here at Southwestern Community College currently hosts the project’s website,” said Schwiebert, who coordinates all training at the sites in addition to serving as the web developer. “Our website is full of information about the project, the training we are providing, as well as simply being a place for instructors and administrators to share their ideas. In the future, this server will also be instrumental in showcasing some of the e-commerce students’ web projects.”

The WNC12 project, which has been made possible thanks to a one-year grant from the North Carolina Community College System, has evolved into a dynamic website in just over six months. Through Schwiebert’s efforts, the project now includes an e-commerce discussion forum where instructors, administrators and students can ask questions and share knowledge.

Also since May, many of the 12 colleges have applied for and received approval to implement their own e-commerce programs. A needs assessment has been taken to identify which programs and areas require additional training and resources. Fifteen such training courses — including web-design, graphics and Internet Law workshops — have already been administered at colleges throughout the region.

“Now that it’s up and running, the training is really starting to catch on,” said Matt Matteson, who handles planning and research at Blue Ridge Community College. “People have been really interested. Their reaction has been, ‘Hey, this is great instructional material we’re getting.’ And they want more of it. There’s nothing but blue sky ahead.”

For more information about the WNC12 project, visit www.wnc12.org on the Internet.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News