Wayne Community College has received a grant for $378,265 from the North Carolina Community College System to be used for the new Emergency Medical Science degree program.

The grant is part of the High-Cost Workforce Program Start-Up Funds, allocated from the General Assembly to assist NC community colleges in starting new programs in high-demand healthcare careers that require significant start-up funds. It will be used to help start, maintain, and enhance the program at a high-performing level over a two-year period.

The Emergency Medical Science program starts in the spring of 2024 and will offer an associate degree, building on students’ EMT and paramedic certifications. This degree program is intended to better prepare students for careers in the emergency medical field.

“The North Carolina State Legislature’s support shows they understand how important our graduates are in emergencies throughout our communities and their vital role in healthcare,” said WCC Emergency Medical Services Coordinator Frederic McCall. “Thanks to their support, we can improve our facilities, update our equipment, and provide cutting-edge training to our students.”

WCC works closely with Wayne County EMS, UNC Healthcare Wayne, and other private transport services in Wayne and surrounding counties to supply them with paramedics to fill available job openings.

“This grant will help us provide excellent education and training for our students and improve the communities our graduates serve,” McCall said. “As our students finish school and start working, they’ll use what they learned to keep North Carolina residents safe and healthy.”