RELEASE DATE: April 21, 2007
CONTACT: Public Affairs, (919) 807-6963
State Board hears community colleges put more nurses on the job
New Wayne CC president approved; system president search process continues
GOLDSBORO – The State Board of Community Colleges heard good news about the System’s nursing students and about the progress on its massive Computer Information System.
Dr. Judith Mann, associate vice president for instructional development at the System Office, shared information regarding community college nursing graduates.
“North Carolina is preparing more nurses for the job,” she said.
There has been a steady increase in the number of Associate Degree Nurses test takers over the past five years. In 2000 there were about 1400 sitting for the test. In 2006, that number was close to 2000.
North Carolina's community colleges put at least 1752 new registered nurses into the vital health care workforce in 2006. Community colleges also prepared at least 781 new practical nurses for tough jobs on the front lines of healthcare. Those numbers reflect the community college students who last year passed their licensing exams on the first try - 89 percent of community college students who took the RN exam and 95 percent of those who took the PN exam, above the national averages in both categories.
Finance and Capital Needs Committee Chair Herb Watkins told the Board that the System has crossed a major milestone on the largest education computer information system conversion in the country. He asked Dr. Saundra Williams, vice president for administration at the System Office, to give the good news to the Board.
“We are on schedule for reaching our goal,” said Williams. She said the transition was like “moving from Windows 98 to XP, but on a much grander scale.”
For the past six years the NCCCS has been in the process of implementing its College Information System that will serve all 58 community colleges in North Carolina. Until recently, most of the management of the system was provided by the vendor, Affiliated Computer Services. Williams told the Board that the transition to management of the system by System Office personnel is nearly complete and that the project should have all colleges going live with the new data management system in time for fall 2007 registration.
Watkins suggested the Board should be proud of the “rigor demonstrated” during the conversion and the “great leadership” shown by staff. The Board responded with an ovation for Williams, Watkins and everyone who has worked on the project.
The State Board of Community Colleges made a little history. For the first time, with its approval of Dr. Kay Albertson (right) as president of Wayne CC, the Board approved the nomination of a new college president at the college where that president will serve.
The historic move also happens as the college celebrates 50 years of service to its community. The Honorable Jimmie Ford (far right), State Board member and former legislator, was an employee of Wayne CC. He had the honor of nominating Dr. Albertson for the unanimous approval she received.
Albertson has a history at Wayne CC. She began there as an instructor in 1980 but left three years later due to her husband’s military transfer. The family returned to Wayne County in 1986 and she worked in the Goldsboro school system and at Lenoir Community College.
Albertson found her way back to Wayne CC in 2000, when she returned as a division head. She was named associate vice president of academic affairs in July 2002 and was promoted to vice president of academic affairs in 2005.
Albertson was also one of the first five fellows of the W. Dallas Herring Leadership Development Institute. The NC Community Colleges Foundation established the institute to help ensure that exemplary leadership within the NCCCS continues.
Albertson follows Dr. Edward H. Wilson (left), who announced in September that he would retire on June 29. Wilson has served since July 1992.
Watkins is also chair of the Presidential Search Committee. The Board approved his request that the search committee be allowed to pursue the services of a search consultant firm. He told the Board the committee would report back next month with the name of the consultant firm they recommend, the job description and broad characteristics to create a profile for the national search, and a time table for the search process.
The Search Committee met in open session after the Board meeting adjourned. They received written responses to the request for proposals from search consultants. They began a discussion of desirable characteristics and credentials for the System President.
The committee will meet again on Monday, April 30 at 9 a.m. in the Caswell Building at 200 West Jones Street in downtown Raleigh. The tentative agenda includes review and discussion of search consultant proposals.
Other committee members are:
Ø Norma B. Turnage of Rocky Mount, vice chair
Ø Dr. Bob Greene of Winston-Salem
Ø G. Gordon "Buddy" Greenwood of Asheville
Ø Anne-Marie Knighton of Edenton
Ø Dr. Linwood Powell of Fayetteville
Ø John Q. Shaw of Dunn
Ø Student member Bently Pagura from Alamance Community College.
Richard Sullins, executive director of the State Board, and David Sullivan, assistant to the president for legal affairs, are staff support.
Meetings of the State Board and of the Presidential Search Committee are open meetings under the guidelines of the Open Meetings Law.
All inquiries about the Search Committee should be directed to David Sullivan in Raleigh, 919-807-6961.
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