Wallace Community College Adapts Its Programs to the Needs of Employers

Wallace Community College (WCC) is one of the leading post-secondary schools supporting Dale County. It offers diverse programming to support different industries and students. Companies looking for training and individuals ready to start their careers can find what they need at WCC.

“We cover everything from two-day trainings up to an associate degree,” says Joe Johnson, Director of Workforce Development at WCC. “We consider ourselves the community’s college.”

The employers in Southeast Alabama and the needs of companies are changing, which means WCC has to adapt. The college continues to offer new courses and adjust each class to ensure graduates are prepared to step into their roles. Learn how WCC stays relevant and works closely with local employers. 

WCC is Forming Its Five-Year Master Plan 

WCC is currently in the process of gathering information to develop its five-year academic master plan. The goal of this research process is to learn what programs should continue, what needs to be added, and if any coursework should be changed. The master plan is developed by a committee of faculty and staff that pulls research from the greater community.

WCC started the master plan process by sending out a survey to employers and community leaders. The survey reached hundreds of people and allowed the college to identify common trends about how outsiders view its coursework.

The next step was to have face-to-face conversations. WCC held a series of industry engagement meetings where local businesses shared their goals and concerns about the workforce. This provided greater context for the survey data.

“This was a great opportunity to get intimate feedback from the community,” says Johnson. “Requests for training look completely different in some industries than others. It was interesting to see the feedback from each region.”

The third step before developing the master plan will be to conduct an internal audit of the college’s coursework to determine how it aligns with the community's needs and requests. 

The Community Shared Common Ideas Across Industries 

While each industry is unique, the industry engagement meetings highlighted some common employment trends that WCC can apply to its master plan. A few things that Johnson repeatedly heard as he spoke with employers include:

• Additional apprenticeship options. Students need more opportunities to enter the work environment and get hands-on experience in the field. These apprenticeships also allow students to earn while they learn. 
• Shortening windows to employment. Employers can’t wait multiple years for students to graduate if they are hiring now. Flexible training programs help people get the skills they need so they can work sooner.  
• Education around artificial intelligence (AI). More companies than ever are implementing AI tools into their workflows. They need employees to be familiar with this technology and use it throughout the day.  

Johnson says the community has been open to these discussions and willing to share the pain points that limit hiring and productivity.

“We pride ourselves on being in constant contact with the community,” he says. “It’s almost like we’re talking amongst friends because we have a relationship with everybody in the room on some level.”

Employers across Southeast Alabama can contact Johnson to ask about coursework at WCC and discuss opportunities to offer new training programs focused on specific skills.  

“We want to make sure that when our graduates walk across the stage, they are as work-ready as possible,” he says. 

The Academic Master Plan Review Matches the Arrival of Dr. Kathy Murphy

The development of a new academic master plan occurred just as Dr. Kathy Murphy stepped into her new role as president of the college. Dr. Murphy took over the role in May 2025 and is the first permanent president since Dr. Linda Young retired. Dr. Young served as president for 36 years, so a new leader marks a significant change for WCC.

The academic master plan review allows WCC to ensure that its leadership and educators are aligned on their vision for the future and that this vision matches the community's needs.

“Our goal is simple: to make sure what we do each day on our campuses aligns with community needs,” says Dr. Murphy. We’ve already received great feedback from our community stakeholders, and we have an excellent team at the College working hard to shape this vision. This new academic master plan will be our roadmap to ensure Wallace continues to prepare workforce-ready graduates, provide employers with timely and relevant training, and ultimately strengthen the communities that count on us.” 

Dale County is Poised for Growth With Strong Education Partners 

The Ozark-Dale Economic Development Corporation (ODEDC) works closely with schools across the region to ensure graduates are ready to enter the workforce. The partnership with all the local colleges and K-12 schools helps ODEDC identify training and upskilling opportunities for employers so their workforce can embrace new processes and technology.  

If your organization is expanding to Dale County or is preparing to expand into new workflows, contact ODEDC. Our team can connect you with education providers supporting workforce development and ensure your team has the skills needed to succeed.

The modern workforce is constantly evolving. Passionate individuals like Dr. Kathy Murphy, Joe Johnson, and the team at ODEDC will ensure Southeast Alabama residents are ready to work in whatever environment the future holds.