Ralls addresses State Board

RELEASE DATE: January 18, 2008

CONTACT: Audrey Bailey (919) 807-6963

Ralls to State Board: “The work has already begun.”

RALEIGH -- "Community colleges allow people to earn their own dignity."

Members of the State Board of Community Colleges heard that statement today from Dr. Scott Ralls, president-elect of the North Carolina Community College System, as he reported to them on his plans for his first 100 days in office.

"What I realize is that those first 100 days began with your announcement of my selection," said Ralls, who appeared at the State Board meeting at the request of State Board Chair Hilda Pinnix-Ragland. The State Board selected Ralls, now president of Craven Community College in New Bern, on December 6. He reports to work in Raleigh as president-elect April 1 and takes over as president when H. Martin Lancaster retires May 1.

Ralls said he has mixed feelings about leaving Craven Community College, where he has enjoyed the campus environment and daily contact with students. However, he relishes the opportunity to travel around North Carolina, as he has done since his selection.

Ralls listed "Four C's" important as he makes plans for his return to the System Office, where he served as vice president for economic and workforce development before going to Craven Community College.

"Community is the most important word in our name," said Ralls. He said each college must service its region; what is right for one community might not be right for all.

He listed collaboration and connection, saying, "We must learn from each other."

Finally, he pointed to willingness to change as the factor of overriding importance. "The world changes so quickly," he said, pointing to rapid shifts in the state, its economy and its competition.

Ralls listed three "areas of urgency" for the North Carolina Community College System, which enrolls more than 800,000 students a year in 58 comprehensive community colleges. First, he said the System must step back and take a hard look at the level of complexity in process and procedures that has developed over the years. Second, he underlined the need for greater resources for community colleges as baby-boomers retire, workforce needs escalate and demand grows for more students to complete degrees on time. Third, he emphasized the need for collaboration among educational agencies, saying, "There is a lot already in progress, thanks to Martin Lancaster and (UNC System President) Erskine Bowles."

Ralls characterized himself as a "community college optimist," saying, "No matter what goes wrong, there is so much more that is right."

Four new members of the State Board took their oaths of office from Judge Robert C. Hunter of the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Edwin H. "Eddie" Madden, Jr. of Cashiers was appointed in November by Gov. Michael F. Easley. He joined the family business, Madden Realty, in 1993 and is now "Broker-in-Charge." Madden earned a master's degree in public administration and a B. S. in political science at Western Carolina University, where he graduated with honors and was named to Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society. He has been a Jackson County Commissioner as a Trustee of Southwestern Community College. He and his wife Dawn have three children.

Allen Wellons, also appointed by Governor Easley in November, is a Smithfield attorney and former member of the North Carolina Senate. He has served two terms on the Johnston Community College Foundation Board, chairs the Johnston County Economic Development Board and serves on the Partnership for Children. Wellons earned his undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and his J. D. from North Carolina Central University. In 2004, he and his wife Cissie established a scholarship endowment for Hispanic students at Johnston Community College. The couple has three children and three grandchildren.

Norma Bulluck Turnage is president of Josh Bulluck's BBQ, Inc. in Rocky Mount. A former teacher and past member of the State Board of Education, Turnage has been reappointed by Governor Easley to a second term on the State Board of Community Colleges. Turnage, a graduate of UNC-Greensboro, has served on numerous boards and commissions. She and her husband Frederick E. Turnage, former mayor of Rocky Mount, have two children and five grandchildren.

Shannon Overman is a student in Dental Assisting at Alamance Community College and new president of the North Carolina Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (N4CSGA). She succeeded to that post and to the non-voting ex officio State Board seat as student representative when former member Bently Pagura took a position as an instructor at Alamance Community College. She is a member of the Student Senate at Alamance Community College.

The Board welcomed two new community college presidents.

Dr. Donna Tipton-Rogers (left) is president at Tri-County Community College in Murphy, serving Cherokee, Clay and Graham Counties. She thanked the State Board for its trust, saying she looked forward to being a leader in the state as well as in the west.

Dr. Sharon Morrissey (right) is the sixth president of Richmond Community College. “We are never finished. We are always in the process of becoming what we need to be of service to our students,” she told board members.

The Board had its first exposure to the proposed 2008-09 Budget Request. Kennon Briggs, vice president for Business and Finance walked the members briefly through a draft budget he said emphasizes un-funded and under-funded priorities. The proposal includes new funding for allied health programs; technical and vocational education (prompted by President-elect Ralls); student services needs for counselors; and minority male mentoring. Salary increases at the colleges and the System Office remain a priority; and capital needs for equipment and facilities are also included. Briggs told the board that curriculum FTE (full-time equivalent) enrollment has increased by 5500, an indication of an economic downturn as people who lose their jobs often seek re-training.

The budget request also includes funding for four specialty items: Rowan-Cabarrus Community College at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, the Textile Center at Gaston College’s East Campus, Wake Technical Community College’s North and West Campuses, and the replacement of the 40 year-old Dan Moore, an instructional ship for Cape Fear Community College’ Marine Technology program. “This ship is no longer safe for instructional purposes,” said Briggs.

Other business

The Board approved an agreement with Robeson Community College regarding the college’s offering of an Aviation curriculum, which has operated in association with the University of North Dakota and the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation since 2005. After an audit conducted by the System Office, Robeson was found to not have had prior approval of the contract with the Foundation, which is a violation of State Board regulations and the Administrative Code. The college also failed to provide required protections for the students or control over the curriculum. The college has agreed to repay $65,000 to cover money received from the State, a 25% penalty and the cost of instruction. The contract with the Foundation will be revised to comply with the Administrative Code.
Following acceptance of the settlement, the State Board voted to release $270,000 in performance funding Robeson Community College earned by achieving "superior" in a previous fiscal year. As a matter of policy, the State Board has the authority to hold performance funds in abeyance while audits and investigations are in process. The State Auditor has a separate audit underway.
Computer Information System - The Board applauded Vice President for Administration Saundra Wall Williams when she reported that the collaboration to move the Computer Information System to fully operational phase is almost complete. “We are in the middle of our change management process,” she said. This will enable the System Office to provide management and support of the management information system.

The Board approved the award of $595,000 to three colleges to serve as Development Centers for the Virtual Learning Community for 2007-2010. Surry Community College will be the Quality, Assessment and Subject Coordination Task Force Center; Wake Technical Community College will manage Professional Development; and Fayetteville Technical Community College will be the Technology Center.

The Board accepted a 24-month grant agreement with the U. S. Department of Education totaling $733,865 to provide College Ready: Adult Education Transition Program services. North Carolina was one of four recipients out of 47 applicants. The grant is designed to improve the quality of Adult Secondary Education programs and increase the numbers of 18 to 24 year old out-of school youth successfully transitioning into community college programs. Davidson County, Forsyth Technical, Pamlico and Pitt Community Colleges will each receive $20,000 to increase outreach efforts and enhance current programs. The grant also supports additional research, professional development and technical assistance for the system.

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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