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| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: July 6, 2000 |
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ANOTHER NATIONAL AWARD FOR COMMUNITY COLLEGES
RALEIGH: The North Carolina Community College System and the North Carolina Employment Security Commission will receive the National Showcase Award at the Joint Employment and Training Technology Conference (JETT*CON2000) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The award will be presented at an opening reception at the Hyatt Regency on Sunday, July 9. The US Department of Labor and other organizations interested in technology training sponsor the conference that runs through July 12.
The NC STARS (State Tracking Accountability and Reporting System) developed by the NCCCS and the ESC, is one of nine programs to be honored at the conference and one of only two from community colleges. NC STARS won recognition in the Powerful Partnerships at the State Level category. In addition to the award, the system will be showcased in a presentation booth during the conference.
NC STARS is the product of a partnership involving the NCCCS, the ESC, 25 local area workforce development boards and the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The initial goal was to create an Eligible Training Provider System, as required by the new Workforce Investment Act (WIA). NC STARS was developed as a fully automated, relational system design that emphasizes Internet connectivity for vendor education and training data input. The program also provides for workforce board administration of the training approval process and enables direct public access to consumer choice information. In other words, a person interested in finding information can log onto the system and find information about education and training resources, job availability, and certification information using a quick, cost-effective and consistent process.
H. Martin Lancaster, NCCCS System President is extremely pleased that the ingenuity of the system is again recognized as trend setting. "We consistently provide quality training services to the people of North Carolina. I am happy that those efforts are being recognized as innovative and productive. This technological service continues our mission of providing the important resources necessary for the continued economic development of our state," he said.
Stephanie Deese, NCCCS Workforce Initiatives Director, was instrumental in the development of the technological innovation and will accept the award on behalf of community colleges. She feels the NC STARS won recognition for several reasons, including the fact that it is the result of a unique partnership. "The Community College System has the lead in coordinating the development of this new service and the Employment Security Commission is designing the system. Together we have created a process that streamlines services and gives training and job seekers the power of choice and informed decision-making," she added. The system officially went on-line in June, but it is constantly updated and design changes continue.
The new NC STARS program is live and can be accessed at www.ncstars.org. The database is an NT server-based application that allows data upload and update via both Internet electronic file transfer and direct entry. The NC STARS program allows the seamless delivery of critical information from multiple data sources to customers in a variety of relevant, easy-to-understand formats.
For two years in a row, worker training programs provided by the NCCCS have been ranked number one in the country by national professionals who help industries choose sites for new and expanding plants. The NCCCS also received the second annual State Innovation Award from the Education Commission of the States for its unique customized training provided to business and industry.
The North Carolina Community College System, with more than 759,000 students, is the third largest community college system in the United States. The System is the state’s primary agency for delivery of job training, literacy and adult education programs.
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