Nash and Edgecombe community colleges are expanding their course offerings this fall, taking another step toward tailoring their classes and degree programs to both the needs of local businesses and the economy.

The colleges’ curricular additions are in response to local industries’ demands for skilled workers and the increasingly attractive health care industry for job seekers.

Nash Community College students will be able to pursue associate degrees in health care business informatics, human services technology and human services technology-gerontology.

“With the addition of these three new programs, Nash Community College is confident our graduates will continue to meet work force needs and obtain employment,” said Deborah Griffiths, vice president for instruction. “The college is committed to providing affordable, relevant programs that provide educational opportunities for students to prepare to meet local needs.”

The health care business informatics degree program prepares students for careers in installation, data management, system design and computer training for medical information systems.

The college’s Public and Human Services Department added the human services technology degree program to prepare students for careers in agencies that provide social, community and educational services. The degree with a gerontology focus equips students with the skills to work with aging adults, studying the psychological, physical and social effects of aging as well as wellness, nutrition and exercise.

“All three of these degree programs are important and provide additional opportunities and jobs with the skills the students learn,” Griffiths said. “Each one has a variety of areas that they can work in because of the computer and networking skills that are associated with that program.”

The number of jobs available in each of these areas is expected to grow from 16 to 23 percent in 2018, she said.

“As the population increases in age, the demand for health care workers is expected to increase dramatically. By the year 2030, nearly 20 percent of Americans will be age 65 and over,” Griffiths said. “This represents a projected 75 percent increase in this age population. These trends will result in demand for professionals that can not only work with technology-based health care information systems, but also an aging population.”

After Greenleaf Nursery in Conetoe contacted Edgecombe Community College asking for specifically trained workers, the college responded by creating a horticulture class that will begin Sept. 13.

“They are hiring about 25 to 30 employees and need training especially for these new workers,” said J. Lynn Cale, associate vice president of instruction.

The college also is adding four additional classes in the fall for students interested in a career as a lactation specialist, health coach, medication aide, or in the tourism industry.

The tourism class was formed at the request of Edgecombe County Manager Lorenzo Carmon.

The creation of the lactation specialist class resulted from a shortage of breastfeeding consultants at Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

The new health coach program was created under the direction of the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine. It will prepare students to work with patients suffering from heart disease, diabetes or stroke.

“We’ve been targeting new and unique courses and programs and want to expand these efforts to include more online options in particular,” Cale said.

Edgecombe Community College President Deborah Lamm said the college undertakes a review process assessing the needs of the community every year during the summer, and the tailoring of courses to fit those needs reflects a community college’s commitment.

“Industries are looking for students who have these special skills, and our goal is to offer them these skills so they can get to work,” Lamm said.