With the increase in cyber threats to many companies and organizations, Piedmont Community College (PCC) and Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) are forging a groundbreaking partnership to educate the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. The two colleges have established a Level-Two Instructional Service Agreement (ISA) for cybersecurity that will begin in January 2024.

The ISA signifies a comprehensive collaboration between the Colleges to share resources, faculty expertise, and instructional support and to develop work-ready talent in the cybersecurity sector.

As part of the agreement, PCC Cybersecurity Instructor Dr. Syed Raza will provide on-campus instruction at VGCC. He was formally the Chair of the Computer Science Graduate Program at Talladega College, holds a Doctorate in Computer Information Systems with an Information Assurance concentration, a Master of Science in computer science from Nova Southeastern University, and a master's in business administration (MBA) from Strayer University. Raza is also a member of various Cybersecurity and Information Technology (IT) organizations.

As a Carolina Cyber Network (CCN) member, PCC contacted its sister school, VGCC, to gauge their interest in working together and sharing resources to focus on cybercrime and cyber investigation. The Network is a comprehensive, innovative workforce development initiative among select North Carolina Cybersecurity educational institutions. Its 18 members are working together to meet the growing talent needs of North Carolina's public agencies and private businesses.

"This agreement reflects our commitment to ensuring students are ready to lead the way in Cybersecurity. By aligning with VGCC, we aim to create an educational ecosystem that transcends boundaries and prepares students for success in an increasingly interconnected world," said Dr. Pamela G. Senegal, PCC President.

Online and hybrid classes offered will include:

· SEC 110 Security Concepts (3 Credits)

· CCT 110 Intro to Cyber Crime (3 Credits)

· CCT 121 Computer Crime Investigation (4 Credits)

· CTI 120 Network & Security Foundations (3 Credits)

The ISA marks a strategic step towards fostering academic excellence and innovation. Both institutions are excited about the possibilities this collaboration presents and its positive impact on their students' education and future careers.

"We are proud to partner with Piedmont Community College to provide excellent learning opportunities in information technology for PCC and VGCC students. We can serve our communities better by pooling our resources, cooperating rather than competing," said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC President.

A Level-Two ISA is when two or more colleges plan to jointly offer curriculum or continuing education courses by sharing resources. One or more participating colleges must be approved to provide curriculum courses in an approved program of study or the continuing education courses the State Board has approved.

Visit www.piedmontcc.edu/cyber for more information.

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Pictured from left: Dr. Syed Raza, Instructor of Cybersecurity, PCC; Dr. Barbara Buchanon, Vice President of Instruction/Chief Academic Officer, PCC; Chris S. Davis, Dean of Business Studies & Emerging Technologies, PCC; Dr. Pamela G. Senegal, President, PCC; Dr. Kim Sepich, Vice President of Learning, Student Engagement & Success/Chief Academic Officer, VGCC; Dr. Rachel Desmarais, President, VGCC; Stephanie Tolbert, Dean of Business & Applied Technologies, VGCC; Spence Bailey, Program Head and Instructor of Information Technology, VGCC; and Christal Thomas, Department Chair of Business Technologies, VGCC.

GRANVILLE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: Granville County staff and the Board of Commissioners have recently become aware of a petition on change.org in opposition to one possible outcome of a current Request for Proposals (RFP) for Granville County Solid Waste Operations Services. The RFP, developed by staff with the assistance of the County’s landfill consultant, Garrett & Moore, was issued in October 2023. Landfill operations had not been competitively bid in several decades, and the landfill is operated at a substantial annual loss even after considering “tipping fees” - the charges people and companies pay per ton to dump trash at the landfill.

County administration believed it important to see whether other pricing and operating options might be available and prove to be worth considering, so the RFP developed by staff was written broadly to solicit a wide range of proposals. County administration is in full agreement that the way we operate our landfill is and should be a matter of public interest. Proposals received by Granville County will be carefully evaluated and brought forward to the County Commissioners along with staff’s recommendation at a public meeting in early 2024 where public input will be welcomed. Further questions about the RFP can be directed to Jason Falls, Environmental Services Director at jason.falls@granvillecounty.org.

GRANVILLE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS: The Granville County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, December 4 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center. The meeting featured the election of Commissioner Timothy Karan (District 6) as the new Chair and Commissioner Jimmy Gooch (District 7) as the new Vice-Chair. Both will serve in these roles until December 2024. Karan is in his fourth term on the Board of County Commissioners after first being elected in 2010. This is the second time he has served as Board Chair after previously holding the same role from 2016-2017. Karan also served as Vice-Chair in 2014- 2015 and 2022-2023. Gooch was appointed to the Board of Commissioners in 2020 and elected to his first full term in 2022. This is his first time serving as Vice-Chair.

In other business, the Board of Commissioners approved a request from Social Services Director LaToya Toussaint to add seven positions to manage the anticipated workload increase from the recently implemented expansion of Medicaid eligibility in North Carolina. Caseloads are expected to increase by 45% as approximately 3,000 to 4,000 residents in Granville County become eligible under the new requirements. Toussaint requested that the Board of Commissioners approve seven positions (four Medicaid Eligibility Case Workers, one Medicaid Supervisor, one Trainer/Quality Assurance, and one Accountant). These positions are all partially cost-shared with the NC Department of Health and Human Services.

The Board of Commissioners also conducted the following business on December 4:

• Received an update from Human Relations Commission Chair Rev. John Gooch.
• Approved the 2024 meeting schedule.
• Approved the board, committee, and liaison assignments list.
• Approved 2024 bonds for county officials (Finance Director, Tax Administrator, Sheriff, and Register of Deeds).
• Approved a pump station site maintenance contract for Triangle North Granville Business Park from E. Christian and Son at a cost of $13,912.50.
• Approved a resolution of support for a grant application from Granville County Public Schools to the NC Department of Public Instruction to construct a new middle school facility at the former G.C. Hawley site in Creedmoor.
• Approved a compensation increase for members of the Jury Commission from $300 per year to $500 per year.
• Approved a proposal from Civic Plus to host and provide a content management system for the Granville County website and to complete a full redesign and deployment of the county website at a cost of $62,734.50 for year one and a recurring cost of $22,464.30 beginning in year two.
• Approved a proposal from Civic Plus to provide agenda management software and services at a cost of $14,266.50 for year one and a recurring cost of $14,178.15 beginning in year two.

• Reappointed Ethel Anderson (District 1) and Gary Kanady (District 6) to the Kerr Tar Advisory Council on Aging.
• Reappointed Zelodis Jay (District 1), Tony Cozart (District 4), and Timothy Karan (District 6) to the Granville Health System Board of Trustees. The next meeting of the Granville County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, January 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.

To stay informed about upcoming meetings of the Board of Commissioners, visit the Granville County website www.granvillecounty.org where you can sign up for the “Sunshine List” and follow the county on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GranvilleCountyGov.