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| For Release: IMMEDIATE | Contact: Public Affairs |
| Date: April 15, 2005 | (919) 807-6963 |
Community colleges to demonstrate collaborative teacher education and health care skills at the General Assembly
RALEIGH: Many of North Carolina’s health care needs are met by community college nursing graduates and more and more classroom teachers begin their studies at a local community college. On Tuesday, April 19th, members of the General Assembly will learn first-hand about a cooperative teacher development program involving several community colleges and East Carolina University. On Wednesday, April 20th, a demonstration will focus on the Nursing and Allied Health programs at Bladen Community College.
Some community college students who plan to become public school teachers will visit the General Assembly to talk with legislators on Tuesday. They are students in Partnership East, a teacher training program in collaboration with East Carolina University in Greenville. This program provides an opportunity for students to receive a four-year Bachelor Degree and a public school teacher license through ECU on their local community college campus, enabling these students to study in the communities where they live and plan to teach. Students from Johnston, Lenoir, Sampson, and Wayne Community Colleges are part of Partnership East. Students and instructors from Johnston CC, other community colleges, and ECU will be on hand to talk with lawmakers about this very successful collaborative program. Similar programs exist in other parts of North Carolina.
The nursing shortage is serious in North Carolina and is growing. It is estimated that by 2015, the shortage will total more than 9,000 and will double by 2020. The NCCCS currently produces more than 60 percent of the newly registered nurses and most of the practical nurses in the state. Bladen Community College will send 20 of its Associate Degree Nursing students to the General Assembly to conduct health screenings and prepare "Health Report Cards" for lawmakers and other participants.
The demonstrations will be held in the North Lobby of the Legislative Building from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Tuesday and from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM on Wednesday. Refreshments, especially healthy snacks on Wednesday, will be served.
System President H. Martin Lancaster will visit the Tuesday demonstration at 11:00 AM and the Wednesday demonstration at 2:00 PM. Dr. Don Reichard, president of Johnston CC President and Dr. Darryl Page, Bladen CC president, will be on hand for their respective demonstrations.
These are the first two events in a series of demonstrations presented by the North Carolina Community College Faculty Association. The events are designed to graphically illustrate the important role community colleges play in preparing North Carolina's workforce. The program also gives community college students a valuable lesson in state government.
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