Danville Community College to offer new programs next semester

Students at Danville Community College will have nine new programs to choose from in the upcoming semesters.

The Building Trades Technology Certificate Program is a one-year course designed to give students basic carpentry and math skills as well as familiarity with plumbing, block and brick paying, heating and air conditioning systems and home electrical wiring.

The new Welding Technology Certificate Program is another one-year program that will prepare students to become welders in a variety of industries.

Other certificate programs will be career studies certificates in digital imaging and photography; intermediate level emergency medical technician; factory automation and robotics; logistics management; and printing technology.

DCC also will have Associate of Applied Science degrees available for wood science technology and industrial maintenance technician.

Several of the new programs were set up after local businesses requested specific training classes for their employees — giving prospective students a chance to find out what jobs are available locally as they choose their fields of study.

The college’s meeting Monday ended with the college’s president, Carlyle Ramsey, filling the board in on the Oct. 29 incident at the school during which two men were arrested for having a gun on campus.

Ramsey called the incident “serious and troubling,” and said the college is prepared to prosecute anyone who brings guns on campus to the “fullest extent of the law.”

He praised the students who reported the men, saying they exhibited “good judgment, poise and maturity,” and said the Danville Police Department responded extraordinarily fast.

Ramsey told the board there have been numerous technology upgrades around campus to make it safer, including text alerts, more and better cameras and digital message boards.

“Nothing is more important than the safety and security of everyone here,” Ramsey said. “Anyone who comes on campus to do harm will be swiftly dealt with.”

Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.