RELEASE DATE: September 21, 2007
CONTACT:
Presidential searches dominate State Board of Community Colleges meeting
RALEIGH - The State Board of Community Colleges today (Friday) heard that the search for a new system president is on schedule. Herbert Watkins, chair of the Presidential Search Committee of the board, told the board that the interim report from consultants Gold Hill Associates confirmed a sufficient number and sufficient caliber of applicants received by the September 14 deadline.
Watkins said that the committee would meet again in Raleigh on Tuesday, Oct. 2 to select five semi-finalists for a first round of interviews. Following those interviews, the committee will determine three finalists and report those names to the full board at the November State Board meeting. The three will be reported to the full Board at the November 16 meeting, with final interviews scheduled at the discretion of the full Board.
H. Martin Lancaster, who has served as President of the North Carolina Community College System since July 1997, plans to retire May 1, 2008.
The State Board also heard progress reports on several presidential searches underway at individual community colleges within the System. Those searches are conducted by local Boards of Trustees, who appoint their own search committees. The State Board holds the authority to approve the lists of finalists for local presidencies and, once local committees make their hiring decisions, to approve the eventual selection.
Richard Sullins, Executive Director to the State Board, reported that Richmond Community College will present its three presidential finalists for consideration in October. Bladen is poised to decide whether to use a search consultant, Rowan-Cabarrus will select a consultant this Monday. Sullins noted that he expects four new presidents will be presented for approval at the State Board meeting in October at Halifax Community College.
Higher ceiling on student fees
The Board approved a new maximum annual amount for student activity fees each community college may charge, from the present cap of $38 to $65. Kennon Briggs, Vice President for Business and Finance, predicted that most colleges will wait until the 2008-2009 academic year to change fees, although they may do so during the current year. Board member Estell Lee Harrellson noted that the new amount is a maximum, not a requirement -- colleges may choose to charge lower student activity fees.
Finance and Capital Needs Committee Chair Herbert Watkins told the Board the committee had questions regarding appropriate uses of funds generated by student activity fees and would continue that discussion at its October meeting.
Program guidelines and approvals
Biofuels: The State Board approved the System's first Alternative Energy Technology in Biofuels, which will be offered at Central Carolina Community College.
Lateral entry: The State Board approved new guidelines to improve the Lateral Entry Certificate offered by community colleges to adults seeking credentials to teach in elementary and secondary schools. In 2005, the General Assembly passed a law permitting community colleges to start lateral entry programs, which serve adults who have baccalaureate degrees in fields other than education. The original law required that lateral entry participants had to have completed a bachelor’s degree at least five years prior to undertaking lateral entry and were already employed in a local school administrative unit. Recognizing that those requirements discouraged applicants at a time when teacher shortages are dramatic and growing, the General Assembly this year removed those requirements. Today, the State Board approved new Lateral Entry Certificate Guidelines reflecting the legislative changes and simplifying the language.
Grant guidelines and approvals
The Board approved the application, guidelines, and scoring criteria for the second round of Facilities and Equipment Grant Funds provided by the General Assembly. This year, $15 million is to be awarded, with a single-grant maximum of $1 million. The 18 colleges that received funding last year are ineligible to apply this year. Also, no "equipment-only" grant request will be accepted. Priority will be given to projects that are consistent with the college’s strategic plan and have a high potential for promoting economic growth. These conditions reflect the intention of the legislation that was approved by the General Assembly. The timeline calls for final review and approval of recipients during the November 16 Board meeting.
(Application materials are posted on the System's website at http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/Facility_Services/Facilities%20Grant%202007.htm)
The Board also approved $3.395 million in allocations to the host colleges of the six BioNetwork Centers and the Validation Academy located at the Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center (BTEC) located on NC State’s campus and $2 million in BioNetwork Grant Awards for equipment and innovation. The grants were awarded to 20 colleges. (A detailed list to follow in a separate release.)
The State Board was also officially informed that Wilson Technical Community College has changed its name to Wilson Community College, effective upon notification to the Board.
The North Carolina Community College System enrolls more than 800,000 students in 58 comprehensive community colleges. Internationally recognized for the scope and quality of its programs, the System is North Carolina's primary provider of workforce preparation and adult education. For details, visit www.nccommunitycolleges.edu.
RETURN TO TOP OF CURRENT PAGE
Last modified:
Friday, May 20, 2011 02:21:43 PM
This page maintained by
Public
Affairs.