Orange County NC Website
<br />3 <br /> <br />Second Emerging Priority: GGrow Public Safety Programs. <br />Likewise, our public safety leaders appreciate our role in the coordination of public safety programs. We <br />must grow our offerings to meet the demand: <br />x Implement a full range of EMS offerings and specialties including EMS Instructor training. <br />x Offer Fire Protection Technology and Fire Services Extension training at OCC. <br />x Expand BLET and Law Enforcement Extension training. <br />x Add Emergency Management at OCC. <br /> <br />A fast track Paramedic Academy was created in fall 2018 due to a need voiced by local officials for <br />Paramedics. In addition, over 100 cadets have completed a five month long BLET Academy created in <br />partnership with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Expansion for these two public safety programs <br />along with Fire Protection Technology, Fire Services Extension training, and Law Enforcement Extension <br />training is needed as expressed by local fire stations. In addition, area public safety entities expressing <br />work force needs include the following: Chapel Hill Police department, Carrboro Police department, <br />Hillsborough Police department, UNC Hospital Security department, UNC Police department, UNC <br />Athletic department, Orange County Emergency Services, Chapel Hill Fire department, Carrboro Fire <br />department, Hillsborough Fire department, and Orange Rural Fire Stations. Specific needs in the <br />expansion planning should include flex space for BLET and EMS scenarios and activities such as defense <br />tactics, physical conditioning, and shower facilities. <br /> <br />Third Emerging Priority: AAdd General Classrooms, Administrative and Faculty Office <br />Space, Student Services Wing, Flexible Space, and Parking. <br />General classroom and flexible space must be added to meet the needs of our community. Additional <br />programs and services include the following: <br />x Expand CCP offerings for both school districts and Middle College program. <br />x Add general classroom space for short-term work-based learning courses. <br />x Add a Student Services wing to include admissions, advising, tutoring, testing services, <br />career services, student engagement activities <br />x Add common areas including bookstore, cafeteria, and multipurpose room to accommodate <br />up to 100 for student events, career fairs, and other events for the campus and community <br />x Include flex space with shower facilities for public safety programs as well as health and <br />wellness course offerings. <br />x Add parking capacity to accommodate the increase in programming. <br /> <br />At the Orange County Campus, the lack of space is a recurrent issue each semester. Lack of office space <br />for the growing number of instructors on this campus, lack of “quiet zone” space for ADA compliant <br />testing and on-line tutoring, and the lack of storage space for the equipment each department requires <br />to realistically teach and prepare students for their career. <br /> <br />On busy days, the shortage of parking spaces impacts OCC students due to the lack of alternative <br />parking options beyond the current lots. Based on the results from the SWOT Analysis, customer service <br />and commitment to quality education continue to be our strength. None of the weaknesses identified <br />during the SWOT were items that OCC staff members were previously unaware of. Most weaknesses <br />centered on facilities, both OCC and NC Works, mainly the lack of space at OCC and the need for