President’s Report
To the
State Board of Community College
April 22, 2005
‘Tis the season of hard work in the General Assembly. I thank you for the personal contacts you are making with your friends in the General Assembly and especially thank Dr. Stuart Fountain for the days he has spent in the Legislative Building talking to members. I hope that more of you will consider spending a day or more in the legislature walking the halls and pigeonholing one and all.
On Monday of this week a proposal was made as the starting point for final consideration of the education appropriation. We are pleased that enrollment growth of $7.8 million, new customized industrial training funding of $2 million, Small Business Center additional funding of $1 million, UNC/NCCCS teacher preparation funding of $1 million, and a small increase for System Office personnel were all included. Cuts included community service bloc grants, off-campus center funding, and public radio. Furthermore, $7.6 million was cut from our instructional formula. Tuition was increased by 4 percent and financial aid was shifted back to the Escheats Fund and this move from tax revenues was considered a cut. Though our appropriation package was certainly not all that we asked for or all that we need, it could have been much worse. Our greatest concern at this time is the lack of continuation funding for our biotechnology initiative. We are assuming that equipment and salaries will be addressed as the budget moves forward. As additional funds may be found, we will continue to advocate for other priorities not met by this initial budget rollout.
During the month I testified to the House Commerce Committee and the Senate Opportunities and Needs for Economic Growth in North Carolina Committee with regard to the very fine economic and workforce development programs of our colleges. I believe that that testimony was helpful in our obtaining funding in the current budget for our customized industrial training initiative.
Dr. Larry Keen, Dr. Stephanie Deese, and I met with the leadership of the North Carolina Workforce Development Commission with regard to our programs and priorities as they do some strategic planning.
Immediately following our last State Board meeting, Alice and I traveled to Wilkes Community College to help them celebrate their 40th birthday. Dr. Gordon Burns and his Foundation really did it up right!
Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee, Ken Whitehurst, Linda Suggs and I met with legislative leadership with regard to the impact of the mandated school schedule on the continued cooperation between community colleges and high schools. We made little progress and remain concerned that this schedule will dramatically and negatively impact the enrollment of high school students in college-level courses offered by community colleges.
During the month I participated in the installation of two new presidents, Dr. Matt Garrett at Central Carolina Community College and Dr. Lawrence Rouse at James Sprunt Community College. Both were glorious events and I know that you join me in wishing both new presidents well. I also participated in the installation of Dr. James Oblinger as the new chancellor at North Carolina State University.
Ray Harrington and I have met with Dr. Ken Taylor of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety with regard to our continuing concern about the lack of funding for Homeland Security training. At the present time, almost all of that money is going into buying "gee-whiz," high tech equipment by local first responder agencies. We are working with Dr. Taylor, once again, on a grant proposal that would direct some of these funds towards training first responders.
Dr. Larry Keen and I met with Senator Elizabeth Dole when she toured the Solectron plant in Creedmoor. Larry went on to Charlotte with Senator Dole as she focused on our role in economic and workforce development. We are very pleased to have Senator Dole’s interest in our programs.
After viewing several potential candidates for the Herring Fellowship, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Robert Shackleford of Rockingham Community College has been chosen as this year’s Fellow. He will be participating in leadership training offered by Hockaday, Hunter and Associates.
I met last week with the trustees of Roanoke Chowan Community College to begin the search process for a new president. Dr. Mary Wyatt resigned her position earlier this month.
I had a busy speaking schedule this month participating on two panels at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) annual meeting in Boston, MA, at the Kinston Rotary Club, at the Wake Technical Community College Trustees Retreat, the North Carolina Council on Educational Opportunity programs at Saint Augustine’s College, the New Schools Advisory Board meeting in Wilmington, and at a workforce development summit sponsored by the Virginia Community College System in Richmond, VA. Also making presentations at AACC were Dr. Delores Parker, Bob Witchger, Karen Yerby, Doug Long, and President Don Cameron.
In addition to the personal calls and committee appearances I have made in the General Assembly in the last month, Kennon Briggs and his staff have spent most of their time in the month providing information to the General Assembly and meeting one-on-one with members and staff.
We are also glad to have Suzanne Williams back after an extended illness. Though she has been working the telephones from home, it is good to have her back in the halls of the General Assembly.
The restructuring of the Textile Center continues to be going well since you heard the report last month.
Ann Bander has retired as the Associate State Budget Officer for Education and has been replaced by Elizabeth Grovenstein. We are pleased to have Elizabeth in this position because of her already deep and broad understanding of community college budget issues.
Kennon Briggs and Dr. Saundra Williams met with new State Auditor Les Merrit and his management team to discuss the CIS Project and IT security audits. The meeting went well. Saundra and Kennon also reported on the CIS implementation to the Joint Legislative Education Appropriation Subcommittee.
Larry Morgan presented a budget and policy workshop for Guilford Technical Community College faculty and staff, and Kennon made a presentation to the Durham County Commissioners and Durham Technical Community College Trustees.
Last week Jeffrey Ryan, Program Officer of the National Science Foundation (NSF), did a workshop on NSF programs which are available for community colleges.
Pam Little has cordinated a Minority Male Mentoring Project Best Practices Conference which in progress in High Point right now. The Governor’s Crime Commission has funded this excellent program, but that funding expires later this summer. We are encouraged that some of the colleges see the value of this program and intend to continue it with local funding.
The annual College Tech Prep Conference was held in Greensboro in late March with more than 700 participants. Among the award recipients was Elizabeth Brown in recognition of her 28 years of dedicated leadership and service to the field of vocational and technical education.
I hope that you have received your copy of the 2005 System Fact Book. Tim Mizelle did an excellent job in publishing this information.
The joint meeting of Instructional and Student Development Administrators at Wrightsville Beach heard from a number of our System Office staff, including Saundra Williams, Fred Williams, Delores Parker, Marcia Daniel, Keith Brown and Betty Adams. It was an excellent meeting.
Dr. Bill Randall has been appointed to the Virtual High School Commission and in that capacity recently visited the Florida Virtual High School.
Two long-time employees in the Administration Division, Joe Barefoot and Kathy Overton, will retire on May 1 after more than 30 years of service each.
I hope that you have been seeing the wonderful advertising campaign which has been run on television, radio, and in print media promoting our BioNetwork programs. You can see more by visiting www.ncbionetwork.org and click on "media."
New job growth continues to be reflected in a variety of new company additions and expansions of existing companies across the state. Our Career Readiness Certificate program continues to gain momentum as a tool of economic and workforce development across the state.
Fred Williams traveled to Roper, NC, to participate in a meeting to explore the educational opportunities for Washington, Hyde, and Tyrrell counties. Other participants included local superintendents, a representative of the University System and of the President Pro Tem Mark Basnight’s Office.
Let me conclude by asking you again to make personal contact with legislators with regard to our legislative program for this year.
This page maintained by Chancy Kapp.