FTCC partners with VGCC on FTCC's funeral service education program

By Staff Report, posted Jan 26, 2024 on BizFayetteville.com

FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells and VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais shake hands after signing an agreement to provide VGCC students with the opportunity to train in FTCC’s funeral service education program. Photo provided by FTCC.

Fayetteville Technical Community College has partnered with Vance-Granville Community College to provide VGCC students the opportunity to train in FTCC’s funeral service education program.

FTCC has the only funeral service program in the state. The program is accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education and the faculty are all licensed funeral professionals.

Vance-Granville is the fifth community college in North Carolina to partner with FTCC on the funeral service program. “This is extremely relevant to our area,” said VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais in a press release. “We really want to open this up as a possibility.”

FTCC President Dr. Mark Sorrells met with VGCC President Dr. Rachel Desmarais on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at VGCC to sign the agreement between the two schools.

The agreement will allow VGCC students to take general education courses through that College. Those students can then apply to transfer into FTCC’s funeral service program. Much of the program’s instruction is offered online. Students must complete certain requirements in labs at FTCC or during work-based learning at a funeral home and they must visit FTCC in person a handful of times to demonstrate or learn key funeral service skills.

Sorrells shared that the program offers students the opportunity to accomplish much of their education without having to travel between their homes and FTCC. “We think that’s a tremendous advantage and it is a way that we, as the only funeral service program in the state, can extend that service out into the rural areas and the small to medium-sized colleges that have a lot of employment demand and need,” Sorrells said in a press release.

N.C. Rep. Frank Sossaman, who owns three funeral homes in Vance and Granville counties, was one of several funeral professionals attending Wednesday’s signing. “I’m so thankful this is happening here,” Sossaman said in a press release. “The more people locally we can get who consider going into this industry, the more likely funeral homes will stay family-owned. I think that’s a valuable thing.”

FTCC also partners with Randolph, Richmond, Robeson and Wayne community colleges to offer their students access to FTCC's funeral service education program.

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