CFCC assures students Marine Technology program is here to stay

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Several months after students protested about the future of Cape Fear Community College’s marine technology program, the college is reassuring students that the program will continue.

Back in July, students at CFCC protested changes to the school’s Marine Technology program.

Jason Rodgers had been removed as department chair of the program, which sparked the protest.

Many students back then told WWAY they were unsure of the future of the program following Rodger’s departure.

But the college said Rodgers continues to work for them in another position.

It also said the program isn’t going anywhere. It was simply restructured, along with some of CFCC’s other career and technical programs.

Brandon Guthrie is CFCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs.

He said he met with students last week to try and answer any concerns they may have.

“I made them aware that we were not gonna shut down the program by any means,” Guthrie said. “There’s actually not been any submissions for any kind of curriculum changes to the program either. So I think those were the top concerns and I think we smoothed those out. And the students went away knowing that they’ll in fact get a Marine Technology degree.”

But some students said they’re still uncertain about the changes. Christopher Holley has just one semester left before he graduates from the program.

He said there are concerns that he and other students aren’t going to be as well-trained as previous graduates.

“I’ve lost like a sense of, a sense of like reassurance that I am going to continue in this program and be as trained as everyone else was,” Holley said. “I’m lost, you know, like almost like a drive to come to school because its like, I’m coming to school and I’m going to “graduate” but I’m not going to be a “graduate” of the Marine Tech program if that makes sense.”

Cape Fear Community College said no further changes will be made to the Marine Technology program.