RALEIGH:  Lawmakers in the State Senate and House of Representatives paid tribute today to the "visionaries" who created the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) in 1963. They heaped accolades on community colleges during the debate on and the unanimous approval of a Senate Joint Resolution commemorating the NCCCS on its fortieth anniversary.

Sen. Tony Rand introduced the resolution and praised the individuals who were instrumental in the development of the System. "It is phenomenal beyond capacity to think of the debt we owe," he said. "North Carolina is a better place, our people better educated and better prepared because of community colleges."

Members in both chambers were eager to add their comments in support of the Joint Resolution. They talked of the System’s history and accomplishments and of their personal community college experiences.

"Without a vision, people will perish," said Sen. Charlie Albertson. He credited Dr. Dallas Herring as a visionary who was instrumental in the development of the NCCCS.

"I can think of no entity that has done more for our rural areas than our community colleges," said Sen. William Purcell.

Sen. Walter Dalton spoke of individuals who initially opposed the idea, fearing it would cost too much. "They were wrong and admitted it twenty years later," he said. "I thank the forefathers. It was money well spent and continues to pay dividends."

As a child, Sen. A. B. Swindell traveled around North Carolina with his late father, Rep. Russell Swindell, as he sought locations where community colleges could operate. He read from letters written during that time, including one to his father from Dallas Herring, thanking the elder Swindell for his tireless work on behalf of the "neglected, forgotten and isolated" individuals who would now have a chance because of community colleges.

Sen. Hugh Webster pointed to the college transfer program offered by community colleges as "the best route to a four-year degree."

Sen. Virginia Foxx, a former community college president, talked of the "changed lives" that community colleges create. "We need to change the image of community colleges," she said.

Sen. Robert Pittenger serves on Central Piedmont Community College’s Foundation Board. He told the members that the college produces more high school graduates than any of the public schools in the county. "I hope we can give a greater priority to funding for community colleges," he said.

Sen. Charlie Dannelly, a former director of Continuing Education Night School at Central Piedmont, spoke of the role community colleges have played in educating African-Americans who otherwise would have been unable to pursue higher education opportunities and are now "productive citizens."

The resolution passed unanimously in the Senate and was sent to the House for immediate consideration. There, the discussion focused primarily on financial support for the System.

Rep. Marion McLawhorn praised the "open door policy" that was established by the visionaries and supported by the lawmakers. "We have a challenge as legislators to keep that vision alive," she said.

Co-Speaker Richard Morgan, himself a Sandhills CC graduate, talked of the role community colleges will play in preparing the workforce for new jobs in the biotech economy. "As our state’s economic needs have changed, our community colleges have been there to ensure that our workers would have new job skills they need," he said.

Rep. Alex Warner commended the cooperation of community colleges during these tough budget times; especially when given the difficult task of making budget cuts. "Leaders cooperated with us 100% and they do it every single time," he said. "Community colleges continue to do more and more with less and less. They head and shoulders try to do the best they can."

Rep. Douglas Yongue agreed that community colleges are fiscally responsible. "We can’t brag enough about them," he said. "We get more bang for the buck out of the Community College System."

Rep. Joe Tolson and Rep. Bernard Allen both talked of the need for more funding for community colleges.

The House gave the resolution unanimous approval.

-NCCCS-

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