RELEASE DATE:  August 17, 2007

CONTACT:  Audrey Bailey, (919) 807-6963

                  Chancy Kapp, (919) 807-6962
 


Budget and leadership changes dominate State Board discussions


RALEIGH - Today the State Board of Community Colleges approved the System budget and allocations of $1.08 billion in state and federal funds to the 58 community colleges. That information was delivered immediately to the presidents and their chief financial officers who were waiting in the Caswell Building. The administrators can now put their plans for this fiscal year into operation. Included in that budget is the five percent increase for community college faculty and professional staff and funds to increase salaries of the presidents. New funds include support for Allied Health programs ($5.6 million) and advanced strategic and facilities planning ($8 million).

Administration Vice President Saundra Williams reported that all 58 community colleges are now live with the new College Information System. This means that all colleges are now registering students using the same information management system for financial, student and human resources data. This implementation represents the largest education information system in the country.

The Board approved Dr. Betty Young as president of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, effective September 1, 2007. Young is president of Northwest State Community College in Archbold, Ohio. Young is the first woman to hold the position in A-B Tech's 48-year history. She succeeds K. Ray Bailey, who had been president since 1990. The Board approved Dr. Richard Mauney, Vice President for Administrative Services at A-B Tech to serve as the interim president, retroactive to August 1, 2007, until Dr. Young arrives.

The search for a successor to System President Martin Lancaster, who has announced his retirement date of May 1, 2008, continues. System Presidential Search Committee Vice-Chair Norma Turnage reported that the Search Calendar has been finalized and is as follows:
        September 14 - Application period closes
        September 28 - Completion of a summary of all applicants
        October 12 - Applicant list reduced to five individuals
        January 18 - Final three names presented to State Board

State Board Executive Director Richard Sullins reported that eight colleges are presently conducting presidential searches. He expects they will all be completed by November.

In other action the Board:

Ø Approved the annual reports on the two Customized Training programs for presentation to the General Assembly on September 1.

Ø Approved a new pre-major program in Special Education under the Associate in Arts Degree.

Ø Expressed its sincere gratitude and appreciation for the services of retiring Ken Whitehurst, Associate Vice President for Academic and Student Services. Whitehurst has been instrumental in the implementation of the New Schools Project which includes Learn and Earn Early Colleges which are now located on 27 community college campuses, with eight more in the planning stage.

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.

 

 




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