photo by David Snow

Demopolis City Schools Interim Supertintendent Dr. Neil Hyche (left) enjoys a moment with UWA president Dr. Richard Holland at Thursday’s open house at the DHEC.

Higher education center hosts open house

By David Snow (Contact) | Demopolis Times

Published Friday, November 13, 2009

DEMOPOLIS — The Demopolis Higher Education Center hosted an open house at its campus Thursday night, and several prominent people turned out for a tour of the educational facility and to meet the administration and instructors at DHEC and the University of West Alabama.

UWA was made the managing partner of DHEC last June by a unanimous vote of the Demopolis City Council, and since then, UWA has been working to bring a presence to Demopolis.

UWA president Dr. Richard Holland told those on hand that in December, the university would appoint an advisory council made up of leaders from Demopolis.

“We need this council to help us decide what the needs are here and how we will move forward,” he said. “We envision this council meeting three times a year. We do not like councils and committees that meet just to be meeting. We need to be productive, and we need everyone involved to feel that they are a part of it.”

After speaking to the crowd, Holland spoke about UWA’s goals for the Demopolis Higher Education Center.

“We have an academic program here that we need to expand,” he said. “We have a dual degree program that we’re going to expand – our continuing education program – and that’s where we need an advisory committee.

“Our primary focus – and we are working on this – is we’ve got to add workforce development technology. Our office has sponsored programs, and it’s working on some grants. It’s hard to get bricks and mortar, but there are ways to do it. We will move forward. I’m very excited about it!”

Holland said that UWA is working to fill the gaps made at DHEC after Alabama Southern Community College announced last week that it would not teach classes at the Demopolis facility in the Spring 2010 semester.

“We know that when we entered this agreement with ASCC, they said they weren’t certain that they wished to continue,” he said. “They said it was a losing proposition for them, that they were losing money, so we understood that at some point, they would withdraw. We are prepared to offer what is needed.

“We are going to approach post-secondary to see if we can get another post-secondary institution as a partner. If we are going to expand workforce development, that is essential, because they can offer those patterns of programs that we cannot.”

Demopolis mayor Mike Grayson and Linden mayor Mitzi Gates were on hand for the open house, which was hosted by Holland, DHEC director Angelia Mance and UWA provost Dr. David Taylor.

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