H. Martin Lancaster, President
The North Carolina Community College System
Raleigh, NC
May 15, 2001
Good afternoon! I'd like to welcome everyone here... our students, their friends and families; Governor Easley; Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue; members of the General Assembly; Joe Stewart, Chief of Staff, Office of the State Treasurer; and our State Board members.
I would also like to welcome Dwight Allen, Chairman of the North Carolina Community Colleges Foundation; Jim Corbett, President of the North Carolina Association of Community College Trustees, many of his fellow trustees and the association's staff; President Ray Bailey from Asheville-Buncombe Tech, president of the Presidents' Association and his colleagues; Jim Davies, President of the North Carolina Community College Faculty Association and Don Wildman, Vice President of the Faculty Association.
I'd like to take a moment to especially thank President Pro Tem Basnight and Speaker Black for including this program on their legislative calendars and enabling so many legislators to attend. This clearly says to me that you agree it is important to acknowledge the academic success of our students and to recognize the excellent leadership, faculty and staff who support them. The strong support of the General Assembly has been essential to the development of a system recognized around the country--and the world--as a model for what community college education should be.
I would be remiss today, however, if I did not clearly say to you that the opportunity to achieve excellence, as these students have done, is in jeopardy for students now in our colleges…and those yet to come.
Of course, everyone in community colleges understands the dire financial situation in North Carolina, and we stand ready to do our part to part to help the state survive it.
However, we are also keenly aware of the needs that community colleges serve -- communities across the state, more than 750,000 in the largest student body in the North Carolina and businesses of all kinds. To support them, we need and deserve the support of the General Assembly.
- Our students and business partners require quality teachers and learning tools. Disproportionate cuts in these resources will mean that North Carolina will lose its competitive edge. Workforce readiness will decline. Economic development will suffer.
- Yes, the bottom line is important. And the bottom line -- in terms of ensuring a bright future for North Carolina -- is quality education.
- Look at the faces around your table today. Look at those next to you, and in front and behind. Which of those bright futures should have been snuffed out?
Fortunately, these outstanding men and women have had the benefit of a top-quality community college education. I urge you to make sure that those who come after do, too.
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