|
|
|
| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: January 24, 2003 |
Celebrating 40 years of "College That Works" for North Carolina
COMMUNITY COLLEGES TO UPDATE COMMITTEE ON BOND PROJECTS
RALEIGH: "These funds have been a godsend. They have enabled us to make some critical renovations on our campus that might not have been possible otherwise." That’s what Rockingham Community College President Robert Keys will tell the Legislative Bond Oversight Committee on Monday.
Once every quarter the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the University of North Carolina present an update on projects financed by the $3.1 billion 2000 Higher Education Bonds. The next presentation is scheduled at North Carolina Central University on Monday, January 27.
The NCCCS presentation on the $600 million portion for community colleges begins at 2 PM in the Education Building. Kennon Briggs, NCCCS Vice President for Business and Finance and Phillip Albano, NCCCS Director of Administrative and Facility Services will update the panel on System progress.
Overall the NCCCS has committed $336 million of the 2000 State Bond Funds, 58% of the amount provided for community colleges. The State Board of Community Colleges has approved 51% of Repair and Renovation dollars and 59% of New Construction funds.
In addition to the System overview, three Community College Presidents will also update the panel on the bond activity on their respective campuses. Dr. Donald Cameron, Guilford Technical Community College President, Dr. Diane Honeycutt, Richmond Community College President, and Dr. Richard Keys, Rockingham Community College President, will enlighten the committee on the value of the capital funds for their colleges.
Rockingham CC just completed a new classroom and storage building for Emergency Medical Services. "This building is used 24 hours a day," says Keys. "It was such a tremendous addition to our college." The college is about to begin construction on a new building to support Lifelong Learning.
Richmond Community College President Dr. Diane Honeycutt agrees the funding has been critical to her college.
"We will be able to renovate HVAC systems that are over 30 years old. They were installed when ‘live better electrically’ was the motto and energy efficiency was not a concern," says Honeycutt.
Dr. Honeycutt credits the monies with allowing Richmond CC to upgrade its teaching auditorium to ADA standards and to rework the machine shop to allow the college to better assist the community with training that aids economic development. Dollars will also allow the campus to construct two new buildings. "These funds were available at a point in time when repairs were critical and local funding was nonexistent."
The 2000 Higher Education Bonds represent the largest capital investment in community colleges ever made by the State of North Carolina.
-NCCCS-
RETURN TO TOP OF CURRENT PAGE
Last modified: Friday, May 20, 2011 02:19:27 PM
This page maintained by Public Affairs.