RELEASE: Immediate CONTACT: Audrey Bailey
DATE: June 20, 2008 PHONE: (919) 807-6963
Ralls to State Board: “We’re a leader in the Learn and Earn Early College movement.”
RALEIGH – The State Board of
Community Colleges held a rare June meeting in new surroundings
today, June 20. The Board members were in five locations, connected
for a video conference through the Information Highway. This was the
first time the members met using the community college distance
learning classrooms.
In his report to the Board*, System President Scott Ralls praised the significant role our community colleges play in the Learn and Earn Early College initiative, not only in North Carolina, but in the nation. Learn and Earn is a major focus of Governor Easley and is championed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
“In just a four-year period,” Ralls said, “North Carolina has become an undisputed leader in a revolutionary new form of education that combines high school and college. This is a result of Governor Easley’s leadership and an incredible partnership and collaboration between our state’s public schools, community colleges and universities.”
Ralls told the Board that in the last four years, 42 Learn and Earn Early College High Schools were initiated in North Carolina and 38 of them are located on community college campuses. This number represents 22 percent of all the Early College High Schools in the United States. Early College High Schools are considered to be a cornerstone effort in addressing the issues of dropout prevention and college readiness. Students enroll in the 9th grade and after five years will have not only a high school diploma but also either an associate’s degree or up to 24 hours of transferable college credit – all tuition free.
Ralls told the Board the effort is a succeeding. He said close to 50 percent of the Learn and Earn Early College High Schools have had zero dropouts, and they had a 96 percent ninth-grade passage rate. Ralls also shared the 100 percent pass rate for Craven Community College’s Early College students taking Algebra 1, a required college preparation course.
Last week, Ralls led a team, selected by Governor Easley, which provided details on Learn and Earn before the 2008 Innovations in American Government Awards competition, sponsored by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. The high school reform initiative is one of 15 finalists selected from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants to represent the best in government innovation on the local, city, county, tribal, state and federal levels. From the 15 finalists, six programs will be selected to receive $100,000 toward the replication and dissemination of the innovation. The winners will be announced in September.
In other business, the State Board approved Dr. Carol S. Spalding as the third president of Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury. Spalding has served as president of the Open Campus, a student-centered global web of educational services, of Florida Community College at Jacksonville since 1988. She also served as the president of the Downtown Campus and interim college president at FCC. Her other leadership experience includes serving as dean of the Open Campus, director of continuing education, program coordinator/counselor and instructor of management, all at Florida Community College. Spalding, who takes office in August, will succeed Richard L. Brownell, who retired May 31 after leading the college as president for more than 30 years.
The Board also approved Dr. William Findt, as the fourth president of Bladen Community College in Dublin. Currently executive vice president for development and community relations at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, he previously worked as dean of continuing education and interim vice president for instruction at Mitchell. His career in education began as a high school teacher at Garland High School in Sampson County. His first community college job was at Sampson Community College in Clinton. He later worked for ten years at Alamance Community College before moving to Mitchell. Findt succeeds Dr. Darrell Page, who last year announced his plans to retire in 2008. Page will step down on June 30 after serving for 11 years.
President Ralls announced that Dr. Ed Wilson, retired president of Wayne Community College, was hired on contract as director of government relations to assist the System Office through the end of the short budget session of the General Assembly. Wilson replaces Suzanne Williams, who accepted a new position as director of Proprietary Schools and liaison to boards and commissions.
Photo above: System President Ralls and SBCC Vice Chair Linwood Powell in main Information Highway room with SBCC members, Rai Glover, Chet Middlesworth and Dr. Bob Greene participating from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
PHOTO BY Audrey Bailey
President Ralls' complete report to the State Board
-NCCCS-
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