College News

PITTSBORO - Learn more about Chatham County and how its local governments work by enrolling in the Chatham County Citizens' College.

Participants will gain a better understanding of how major county and town services operate and who manages them; explore options for serving as volunteers to help local governments; get to know key managers and department heads; and interact with other interested residents of all ages and backgrounds.

The Citizens' College is offered jointly by Chatham County and Central Carolina Community College's Continuing Education Department at its campus in Pittsboro. Continuing Education credits will be awarded.

"CCCC in Pittsboro is excited to now include this wonderful program in our Continuing Education offerings," said Dr. Karen Allen, CCCC Chatham provost. "It fits perfectly with our mission to foster stronger communities and informed citizen."

The Citizens' College will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday night, March 7 through April 12. Locations will vary across the county, but will include the new Justice Center, North Chatham Fire Station and Jordan Lake Water Treatment Plant.

The registration fee is $25. Limited scholarships to help cover the cost are available through CCEC-Institute, Inc., the educational arm of Chatham Citizens for Effective Communities. If interested in a scholarship, contact Debra Henzey in the County Manager's Office at 919-542-8258.

The initial deadline to register is Friday, Feb. 22. To register for the class by phone or to request a printed form, contact CCCC's Continuing Education Office at 919-545-8044.

Rita Spina, of CCEC-Institute, Inc., worked with Renee Paschal, assistant county manager, to develop the curriculum for the Citizens' College.

"It is a tribute to Rita that the program has evolved to the point that it is now part of our Continuing Education options," said Carl Thompson, CCCC director of Continuing Education in Chatham County. "She worked hard with Renee Paschal to develop and fine-tune the curriculum over the past eight years."

The Citizens' College course schedule is:

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• March 7 - Introductions, History of Chatham County, Role of Local Government and Elections; Location: CCCC-Pittsboro
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• March 14 - Planning, Cooperative Extension & Recreation; Location: Agriculture Auditorium, Pittsboro
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• March 21 - Central Carolina Community College and Chatham County Schools; Location: Margaret Pollard Middle School
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• March 28 - Health, Water, Waste and Recycling; Location: Water Treatment Plant on Jordan Lake
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• April 4 - Sheriff, Police and Courts; Location: Justice Center, Pittsboro
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• April 11 - Emergency Ops, Fire Departments & Fire Marshal; Location: North Chatham Fire Station
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• April 12 - City & County Management, Presentation of Certificates; Location: Historic Courthouse, Pittsboro
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For more information, contact Debra Henzey at debra.henzey@chathamnc.org or 919-542-8258.