BY NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON

EDENTON – College of the Albemarle officials unveiled ambitious plans Monday, Oct. 20, 2025 to dramatically expand workforce training programs at the Edenton-Chowan campus, positioning the college to meet growing demand for skilled workers in welding, fiber optics, truck driving and other high-demand fields.

The presentation to Chowan County Commissioners highlighted how federal, state and community college systems are all aligning around short-term workforce training programs that can quickly prepare workers for well-paying jobs.

For more about the Commissioners’ meeting, click on the accompanying story by clicking here.

“The federal government’s focused on workforce, the state government’s focused on workforce, the North Carolina Community College system is focused on workforce, and COA is focused on workforce,” said Jack Bagwell, COA President. “We have a lot of things coming together which I think is a wonderful opportunity for the future.”

Welding Program Could Triple Capacity

The most significant expansion involves the welding program. Jennifer Lopez, COA’s vice president for learning, announced the college has reached the final round of a grant application with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council and Department of Defense.

If approved, the grant would fund renovation of space at the Edenton-Chowan campus to add eight new welding booths and hire a new instructor. The expansion would increase the college’s welding graduate capacity from approximately 107 students per year to 160.

“We cannot have enough welders at COA – we have a wait list,” Lopez said.

Bagwell acknowledged the three-year grant application process has been challenging, comparing it to the Charlie Brown cartoon where Lucy repeatedly pulls the football away.

“We’ve been at the last step several times, and then something changes, so fingers crossed, we’re going to get this done,” he said.

Commissioner Ellis Lawrence’s comments during the presentation highlighted the strong demand for skilled welders, particularly from shipyards in the Hampton Roads region. Lawrence is a member of the COA board and has experience as a welder. He noted how new technology allows students to learning welding techniques before actually welding to avoid flash burns and other injuries.

Board Chair Bob Kirby suggested COA could partner directly with shipyard employers as end-users of the grant funding.

Fiber Optics Training Expands to High Schools

COA’s fiber optics technology program is expanding partnerships with local high schools, allowing students to earn national certification in just 10 weeks while still in school.

The program teaches cable splicing, connectivity, troubleshooting techniques and use of specialized equipment like optical time-domain reflectometers (OTDRs) used to detect breaks in fiber optic lines. Graduates can earn starting wages of $18 per hour.

John A. Holmes High School and Gates County High School are signing on to offer the program to students starting this spring.

Robin Zinsmeister, dean of the Edenton-Chowan campus, explained the program combines virtual classroom work with hands-on training, including visits to installation sites.

“Our new instructor who actually worked in fiber optics is engaged with companies,” Zinsmeister said, noting students receive well-rounded training as fiber optic technicians and installers.

Commissioners expressed interest in the scope of training, with some initially confused about whether students learn installation, splicing or both. Staff clarified that graduates are prepared for various fiber optics roles, from pulling cable to splicing repairs in the field.

CDL and Culinary Programs Growing

COA’s CDL truck driving program has been approved for a workforce continuing education pathway, allowing high school students to participate. The college is also working with local high schools to establish similar pathways.

The culinary arts program is expanding beyond its existing diploma program. Starting fall 2025, COA will offer a food service technology certificate for entry-level food industry employment. The college will also launch a continuing education culinary series for workforce development and community enrichment.

In an innovative approach to maximize use of the culinary facilities, COA is exploring rental of the commercial kitchen during evenings and weekends. Potential uses include:

• Commissary kitchen for food trucks
• Catering event preparation space
• Venue rental for private events
• Incubator kitchen for restaurant entrepreneurs

The rental income would help offset culinary program costs while providing community resources.

Future Programs on the Horizon

Pending funding, COA hopes to launch electrical utility lineman training at the Edenton-Chowan campus. The program would be co-located with CDL truck driving instruction, as many utility employers require both certifications. The Town of Edenton has offered space at the airport for the lineman program. The CDL program is already located at the facility.

Zinsmeister noted that COA has been designated as an authorized training partner with major employers including Dominion Energy.

Workforce Pell Grants Coming

Bagwell said COA is preparing for implementation of Workforce Pell grants, which could begin as soon as July 2026. The federal program would, for the first time, allow students in short-term workforce training programs to access Pell grant funding – previously available only for traditional degree programs of certain lengths.

“We’ve been advocating for Workforce Pell for at least 20-plus years of my 34 years in community college life, and it’s finally almost here,” Bagwell said.

The anticipated funding has shaped COA’s strategic focus on short-term workforce programs that can be completed in weeks or months rather than years.

Enrollment and Partnerships

Lopez shared enrollment data showing the college tracks both the number of classes offered and student participation in curriculum and continuing education courses. The goal is to increase foot traffic on the Edenton-Chowan campus and expand opportunities for local students.

Lopez acknowledged challenges in finding qualified instructors for technical programs, given that industry wages often exceed what the college can offer. However, she said COA has secured excellent faculty and utilizes simulated welding technology to help students learn safely before working with live equipment.

The college maintains strong partnerships with Edenton-Chowan Public Schools. Bagwell thanked Superintendent Tammi Ward for the ongoing collaboration on pathways programs.

“We have a fantastic relationship, and I hope that we will continue to make that even stronger in the future,” he said.

Former County Commissioner and current COA trustee Pat Kersey was thanked for regularly reminding college officials to update commissioners on campus activities.

State Budget Challenges

While optimistic about workforce training expansion, Bagwell noted ongoing budget challenges at the state and federal levels. North Carolina’s community college system operated under a continuing budget resolution for much of last year before receiving growth funding.

“We did pass a budget at our last trustee meeting last week,” Bagwell said. “We had a continuing budget that had growth dollars. If you remember from last year, we had a long, long delay in getting the dollars that we had earned. This year we got it.”

He added that COA must also monitor federal budget developments more closely than in the past, though community colleges receive less federal funding than research universities.

The next regular meeting of the Chowan County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for November.