President’s Report
to the
State Board of Community Colleges
September 21, 2001
Perhaps my getting caught in England by the terrorist attacks was what was necessary to get the budget process finally moving. We are pleased that the budget will receive final action today. We fared much better than we feared, including getting the first increment of funds to address faculty and professional staff salaries.
I was invited to speak to the European Union Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France, about education and skills development as basic human rights. They invited Alice to accompany me. What we thought would be a short four-day visit to Strasbourg with a 24-hour layover in England to visit with old friends turned into a nightmare. Halfway across the Atlantic last Tuesday our plane was turned around with no explanation other than there had been "a significant incident of sabotage in the United States which necessitated our return to London." More than 4 hours later we learned the horrible truth. The next four days we spent in Eastbourne, England, on the southern coast awaiting the reopening of airspace and the sorting out of tens of thousands of passengers left stranded in London. Fortunately, CNN was available to us along with the International Herald Tribune and the USA Today. Through e-mail and telephone, I was in fairly constant contact with the office and even some of you. Needless to say, we are happy to be safely home. Our prayers join yours on behalf of the victims and their families in Washington and New York. We also pray for our leaders and world leaders as an appropriate response is fashioned and executed.
A number of your staff and I have been participating in the annual fall Counselor Workshops across the state. This is an opportunity for us to share with school counselors news of community college programs and opportunities. We have been received well at each workshop.
I participated in the groundbreaking at Edgecombe Community College for their new multipurpose facility, which will be built with bond funds and locally raised private donations.
I have met with Chancellor Jim Moeser and his Director of Admissions, Jerry Lucido, as we continue to work towards a smoother transition between community colleges and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was pleased with those discussions and hope that they will lead to greater opportunities for our students.
Immediately before I left for Strasbourg, I attended the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry membership luncheon in Raleigh. We can all be proud of the fantastic speech its chairman, Gordon Myers, is making at each of these membership meetings. The Community College System and its role in workforce development is the centerpiece of his speech. His strong support of our programs will be very helpful.
While I was gone, this wonderful staff that you and I enjoy picked up my responsibilities without missing a beat, representing me and your System at events all over the state, including a listening tour in collaboration with the Secretary of Commerce to determine how we might be more responsive to the downturn in the economy and the significant layoffs across the state. They also represented me and you well at the Trustees meeting.
We continue to work with Rockett Burkhead & Winslow on the media campaign and calls continue to be made with regard to our Foundation efforts. I appreciate those of you who have sent back to me contacts that you may have with companies located in North Carolina. I would appreciate your writing or calling them and asking that they meet with me and/or Chairman Dwight Allen. Once you have made that contact, please let me know so that I can follow up with an appointment request. If you have not responded to my request, I hope you will.
A number of you joined me and members of the System Office staff in services celebrating the life of Meigs Golden and in expressing our sympathy and condolences to the family. The services were among the most moving I have ever attended. We have all lost a wonderful friend whose contributions to the Community College System are immeasurable.
Steve Scott represented the System at a meeting of the North Carolina Commission on Indian Affairs with regard to programs that impact Native Americans in our System.
Phil Albano, Kennon Briggs and I presented information to the co-chairs of the Higher Education Bond Oversight Committee as they begin their work with our colleges and universities.
Kennon and his staff have done incredible work to get budget information approved by the Finance and Capital Needs Committee and out to the colleges following the most recent continuing resolution.
Phil Albano has been reviewing and providing information with regard to construction law changes that are being considered in the General Assembly.
Dr. Williams’ division continues to work with the implementation of the College Information System (CIS). Phase 2A colleges are now in the process of equipment and human resource assessment, planning and training. Two kickoff meetings were held (one at Central Piedmont and the other at Wayne) for college staff working on implementation of the student services component of CIS. Faculty and staff from these same colleges also attended a kickoff meeting with Datatel to learn more about the functionality of the new system.
Dr. Scott Ralls and Peggy Graham coordinated the first meeting of the Information Technology Training Collaborative Committee. This effort, similar to the Biotechnology Training Partnership, will bring together industry and System leaders to explore opportunities to significantly enhance information technology training through community colleges. Dr. Mike Taylor of Stanly Community College will chair this effort.
Rick Kimrey and the Regional Training Directors coordinated the Annual Focused Industrial Training Directors meeting at Surry Community College. The meeting featured presentations on several new initiatives and partnerships and was well received and well attended. More than 65 people from 40 institutions were present.
Dr. Delores Parker and her staff organized a very successful and well-received Orientation Workshop for Instructional and Student Services Administrators. Though planned for new professional staff, 63 participants from 23 colleges participated, including some old hands.
Ken Whitehurst, Elizabeth Isler, Edith Lang and Dr. Parker conducted a "Hot Topics on the NC Information Highway" session which focused on the new Under 16 Year Old Student Policy, but also included discussions on new targeted assistance programs, the Golden L.E.A.F. grants, immigration issues, and criteria for enrolling Huskins and Dual Enrollment students. This was a great success with incredible participation across the System. There were five NCIH sites along with 30 telephone hookups so that all who wanted to participate could do so.
Our unexpected event in England confirmed for me, once again, what a wonderful staff we have in the System Office and across the state. I know that you join me in thanking them for all that they do.
This page maintained by Chancy Kapp.