RELEASE: Immediate CONTACT: Audrey Bailey, Chancy Kapp
DATE: August 15, 2008 PHONE: (919) 807-6963, 807-6962
State Board of Community Colleges approves major study of immigration issues, maintains current enrollment restrictions
RALEIGH - The State Board of Community Colleges today (August 15) instructed the System Office staff to move forward quickly with a comprehensive study of issues surrounding enrollment of undocumented students in the North Carolina Community College System.
The Board also approved a motion from Lt. Governor Beverly Perdue, a member of the Board, to adhere to the current practice of restricting the enrollment of undocumented students while the study is underway. The motion specified that the System “maintain the May 13, 2008 directive that bans the admission of undocumented students to NC’s Community College System while the long-term policy is being examined.”
The System Office officially notified community colleges of the Board’s action Friday afternoon through Numbered Memo CC08-181.
“We want to move forward aggressively,” said Dr. Stuart Fountain, chair of the Policy Committee, which recommended the study to the full Board. He said the information would enable the Board to learn how other states deal with the situation and help the Board develop a policy regarding these students.
His motion directs Dr. Scott Ralls, President of the North Carolina Community College System, to work through the state purchasing process to identify a consultant for the study, which will funded through the State Board Reserve.
“We have a
responsibility to have a sound policy,” said State Board Chair Hilda
Pinnix-Ragland. “We owe it to the constituents of the state and
especially the students.”
Three new members of the Board took the oath of office at the start of the meeting: Anita Powers, a Wallace attorney (right); former Richmond Community College instructor, Naomi Daggs (left); and Rockingham Community College student Jeana ElSadder (center), the new student representative on the Board.
Three
new presidents also spoke before the Board:
Dr. Carol
Spalding, Rowan-Cabarrus Community College (Salisbury);
Dr. Catherine Chew, Craven Community College (New Bern); and
Dr. William Findt,
Bladen Community College (Dublin).
The
Board paid tribute to Fred G. Williams, who retires at the end of
the month after serving as executive vice president and chief
operating officer at the System Office since 2002. He came to the
NCCCS after 37 years at Robeson Community College, the last 19 as
its president.
In other action, the Board:
The meeting ended with a report from System President Scott Ralls, who thanked the Board for approving additional funding that is based on a weighted FTE formula to support technical education areas of construction, transportation systems, engineering, and industrial programs. He said their action sends “an important message that we are focused on maintaining and reenergizing our vital role in technical education and we will continue this focus for the future.” (Report attached)
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.
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Friday, August 15, 2008 02:54:12 PM
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Audrey Bailey.