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| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: December 16, 2004 | (919) 807-6963 |
*This release was amended to remove the
information that stated Montgomery CC does not have a nursing program.
The
college offers a Practical Nursing curriculum.
State Board Community Colleges reviews nursing recommendations
RALEIGH: "This action is an indication of the commitment of the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) to provide well-trained nurses for the state," said Dr. Stuart Fountain of the State Board of Community Colleges.
That was the general sentiment of the State Board as the group pored over recommendations affecting the nursing programs offered by the NCCCS today. The Board held a rare December meeting to fashion a response to those recommendations that System President H. Martin Lancaster will deliver next month in a statewide meeting.
A Nursing Workforce Taskforce, convened by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (IOM), began meeting in February 2002 to look at ways to respond to the growing nursing shortage in the state. The 55-member task force included representatives from the NC Nursing Association, the NC Center for Nursing, the NC Board of Nursing, the NC Hospital Association, and the NC Area Health Education Centers (AHECs). There were also representatives from the NC Community College System, the University of North Carolina and NC Independent Colleges and Universities on the task force.
The IOM task force developed recommendations directed at each agency involved in either educating or hiring nurses; 23 of them specifically affect community colleges. Discussion today revolved around those recommendations deemed priority items.
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The Board supports increasing by 20 – 25% the pre-licensure
registered nurses over the 2002-2003 graduation level of 1,461. While the IOM
calls for the increase by 2007-2008, the Board feels the desired increase is
more feasible by 2010. A change in the target date would allow time for the
NCCCS to apply necessary initiatives and the University System to increase
faculty.
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The Board supports reclassifying community college nursing
education as "high cost programs." This classification would enable
additional FTE weighting, which would result in additional per capita funding
if funds are available. In a separate study, the State Board is validating the
appropriate FTE weighting for all Health Science programs, including the
Associate Degree Nursing program.
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The Board supports providing more counselor positions that
would reduce the risk of attrition for students in the nursing programs. The
2005-07 Budget Request to Governor Easley includes an additional counselor at
each community college.
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The Board supports the full implementation and refinement of
the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement between community colleges and the
UNC System campuses. Legislative support is mandatory to accomplish this item
that would relieve what Dr. Fountain called a "stumbling block" to
the seamless transition from community colleges to four-year institutions.
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The Board supports increasing the number of pre-licensure
LPNs from 2002-03 graduation levels by 15% by 2010. The IOM recommendation
calls for an 8% increase by 2007-2008. The Board feels a higher percentage is
needed to meet the growing needs of an aging population and extended care
facilities.
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The Board supports convening a group to study options to
improve school-to-work transitions for nursing students. The Board recognizes
that all agencies involved in nursing education and employment must cooperate.
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The Board supports additional professional development
programs by area health education centers and professional nursing schools.
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The Board supports strengthening partnerships with middle and
high schools for health career recruitment initiatives.
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The complete list of the IOM recommendations is available on their Website at: http://www.nciom.org/projects/nursingworkforce/nursing.html.
The Board also approved a new nursing program at Carteret Community College. The program will begin in the fall of 2005. This addition now leaves only two community colleges – Martin and Pamlico – without nursing programs.
In other action the Board:
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Approved Dr. Marvin Joyner as the interim president at Nash
Community College in Rocky Mount, effective January 3rd. Joyner, the retired
president of Central Carolina Community College, will serve until a successor
to Dr. Katherine Johnson is selected. Johnson is leaving Nash CC to take the
helm as the third president of Pasco-Hernando Community College in Florida.
Dr. Johnson has served at Nash CC since 2000. Prior to that, she spent 17
years at Indian River Community College in Ft. Pierce, Florida, where she rose
from a guidance counselor to vice president.
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Approved Gwen Perkins, Dean of Business Support Services at
the North Carolina Center for Applied Textile Technology, as interim director
of the Textile Center, retroactive to December 1, 2004. Perkins has been with
the Textile Center for 11 years. Dr. Jim Lemmons, NCCATT president since 1984,
retired on November 30th. The Textile Center is presently at the
center of a study regarding future operation of the institution, which will be
decided by the General Assembly next year.
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Approved the reallocation of $1,000,000 of "New
Construction" state bond funds for Lenoir Community College and
acquisition of nine acres of land for a future LCC center in Jones County,
contingent upon a favorable land survey.
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