Welcome to Isothermal Community College through this CareerFocus publication.  As you will see, Isothermal has much to offer. By taking courses with us online or face to face, you improve your chances of a better job, better pay, and a more promising future.  We can and will add value to your life and will allow you to “Stay Near, but Go Far”, and you can do so at an affordable price. How...

Did you know that most students from Rutherford and Polk counties can attend Isothermal at little to no cost? In fact, more than 90 percent of all Isothermal students were awarded some form of financial aid during the past academic year. The Powers Service Scholarship Program was established in memory of Lee L. Powers, a community leader who served on the steering committee that formed...

STEP 1 COMPLETE RESIDENCY DETERMINATION Visit ncresidency.org to complete the NC Residency Determination Service online interview/application. Retain your username, password and Residency Certification Number (RCN). You'll need it to log in to apply in Step 2. Visit isothermal.edu/start for tips on completing the RDS application. STEP 2 APPLY For admission, complete an...

Ah, summer.  A time to kick back, sleep in, close the books . . . or NOT!   Summer is a great time to learn with Isothermal Community College. Summer Classes for College Credit With the spring semester moving right along, a lot of college students are focused on mid-terms, finals, and leaving all that studying behind when summer gets here.  But there are big advantages to registering for...

Do you need to start a career, and fast? What is the secret to getting the training employers want? The latest research shows there are lots of positions waiting for qualified applicants in North Carolina. What do many of these in-demand jobs have in common? They are innovative fields with interesting and challenging careers. And they require only a two-year associate degree or...

With technology impacting our lives in so many ways, and students busier than ever, the way we learn is changing. “Our students now need to multitask, balancing work, family and school. Online classes are not just a convenience but a necessity,” says Jim Egan, dean of Distance Learning at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “And it makes sense. Technology is all around...

“As a Rutherford County native, I’d always heard the benefits of Isothermal: a quality education at a fraction of the cost with an Associate program that allows one to transfer into a four-year school as a junior.  It wasn’t until I decided to go back to school at twenty-six that I saw for myself what a fantastic resource Isothermal Community College truly is. I’ve heard horror stories...

A good career doesn’t just happen without a little planning. If you’re in college-or getting ready for college-take this short quiz to see which steps you need to take to prepare for a career that really fits you. Can you name one or more interests that you would love to turn into a career? yes     no Can you name three or more skills you have that would be an asset to an...

By Joe Looney, Dean of Applied Sciences and Engineering Technologies It’s a Thursday in Rutherford County.   A high school student finishes her lunch period and boards a school bus to Isothermal Community College. Her first college class of the day is a college success course. Today, the students are working with the instructor to map out an individual semester-by-semester academic plan....

A new program at Isothermal Community College will introduce students to the benefits horses have on humans with a focus on therapeutic activities that can aid individuals with physical, cognitive and emotional disabilities. Equine-Assisted Therapy An Introduction to Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies is the first class in this area. It has been offered as a continuing education class...

This report was originally published in the Feb. 3, 2019, edition of The Daily Courier of Forest City. It is used here with permission. By MACKENZIE WICKER, Daily Courier Staff Writer FOREST CITY — About 12 years ago, Jermaine Price was flipping burgers at a local fast food joint. Now, the high school dropout-turned-Emmy award-winning television producer is living a life he never...

Skill Gap 98% of CEOs surveyed by Business Roundtable say their companies suffer from a skills gap Help Wanted 30% of job openings created by 2020 will require some college, a CTE certificate or a two-year associate degree Information Technology 12% growth through 2024 $84,580 median annual wage in 2017 Healthcare 2.3 MILLION new jobs through 2024 $64,770 median annual wage in...

Research your desired 4-year institution, the most transfer-friendly ones offer TAG and Dual Enrollment programs. (Transfer admission guarantee (TAG) and dual enrollment are programs that guarantee transfer students admission with junior year standing.) No Tag or Dual Enrollment? No problem. Instead they will have a transfer or articulation agreement. (A formal agreement between sending...

Big dreams don’t have to begin with a big budget Why should you attend a two-year college like Isothermal if your goal is a four-year degree? Because low cost and high quality add up to one smart choice.  As the price of an education climbs and the value of a college degree increases, more students are realizing that completing the first two years of their degree at a community college...