CCC's new animal science program offers students new career opportunities

For students interested in a career working with animals, Cleveland Community College has just the program.

The Animal Science Technology Program, which is in its second year, offers students a certificate program or associate degree that can then be transferred to a four-year university.

CCC recently announced the program was the recipient of a $7,000 U.S. Poultry Foundation grant. According to a press release, this was the maximum award that the college was eligible to receive.

The grant will be used to help educate middle and high school students about the Applied Animal Science Technology program, and career opportunities available in the poultry industry. Funds will also be used to support collaborative events such as college career days, animal science days and poultry science judging contests, and to strengthen connections with local employers and poultry industry affiliates.

The U.S. Poultry Foundation provides these grants as part of its Industry Education Recruitment Fund. The fund supports recruitment at colleges that encourage careers in the poultry industry.

Courtney Happ, CCC animal science instructor, said she was hired in August of last year for the new program. She said the college leadership knew animal sciences would be a good addition in a county with a lot of farming and agriculture. She said at first, it was geared toward a biotechnology program, but with input from advisory members, they decided to shift the focus to animal science.

“It does seem to be a really good program for the area. Cleveland County is very ag heavy,” Happ said.

She said students have the option to enroll in the Applied Animal Science Technology certificate program, or in the Applied Animal Science Technology associate degree program.

High school students can get a jump start on a career in animal sciences by taking classes free of charge through the Career and College Promise (CCP) Program, which provides opportunities for eligible high school students to take tuition-free, college courses for dual credit. Happ said students can either complete the certificate or begin the associate degree program which can then be transferred to a four year university.

“The certificate program is mainly just used as a resume booster or college application booster and all of those certificate classes do transfer into the associate degree program, they are classes they would have to take anyway,” Happ said.

Some of those classes include animal health, reproduction, nutrition and management.

“Things like that to just give them a good idea of what animal science is all about,” she said.

Classes are offered online or in the evening so, for high schoolers, it doesn’t interfere with other classes.

For the in-person classes, Happ said they do a lot of field trips to give students hands-on experience.

She said although still new, the program has doubled its numbers in its second year.

“It's been good,” she said. “It's been a lot to put together because we really just started it from scratch. The first year we had about six students enrolled.”

She said some were pursuing a degree and others were taking it as an elective.

This year there are 13 enrolled.

“It is growing, and we hope to continue growing in the future,” she said.

Students have been to well over a dozen local farms, mainly in Cleveland County, but they have also traveled to different Case Farms locations. Happ said this gives students the chance to see a day in the life of various jobs and learn about future career opportunities.

She said students have learned skills such as how to apply ear tags, deworm, vaccinate, and move animals through equipment, such as a cattle chute.

“It gives students a chance to practice. We’ve had a lot of community interest. The success of the program is directly facilitated by the community's involvement," Happ said. "They've been great.”

She said some of the students enrolled in the classes are interested in starting their own farms or want to go on to pursue a bachelor degree.

Happ said the feedback so far has been good, and she wants people to be aware of all the opportunities through the animal science program, such as feed sales companies in agriculture, farming, poultry operations, nutrition companies and more.

“I want to have students know about the opportunity for high school classes as well. Since we are so new, and students' schedules get full so fast, we want to let them know the CCP course is an option," she said.

Happ said it also gives high schoolers a college experience, either on campus or through online courses.

“It's really a great opportunity, especially free of charge, and get your feet wet and if nothing else transfer to a bachelor degree program,” she said.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: CCC's animal science program offers students new career opportunities