Raleigh: "We have responded and we have absorbed these workers in need into our community colleges," said State Board of Community Colleges member, Dr. Bob Greene. Greene said the Pillowtex situation has given our community colleges a prime opportunity to carry out the true mission of the System.

The North Carolina Community College System is on the front line providing assistance to displaced workers all across the state. Today, the State Board received specific information about the efforts to assist individuals affected by the massive Pillowtex closings. The report shows that more than a thousand individuals are already enrolled in various programs at community colleges.

Dr. Stephanie Deese, Director of Workforce Initiatives for the NCCCS, reported to the State Board that three community colleges are already involved in emergency assistance programs, Rowan-Cabarrus, Rockingham, and Central Piedmont, and other colleges will soon offer assistance.

"This is the largest lay-off of workers from a single employer in North Carolina. Advanced notice by Pillowtex gave us the opportunity to plan a strategy," said Deese. "We have faced many challenges and we were forced to be creative in how we responded to this situation."

The NCCCS partnered with the Employment Security Commission and the Department of Commerce to apply for emergency Federal funding the day after the announcement. A grant of $18.2 million was awarded and to date the NCCCS has had a direct appropriation of $2.5 million designated for assistance. The money will be used to provide retraining opportunities and supportive services to these affected workers.

The colleges met with community partners to identify classroom space in the community for training. Retired employees have come back to work, community center and high school spaces have been donated for classroom space, and the colleges have absorbed as much as they could.

Deese and Maureen Little, Charlotte Area Regional Training Director, gave the Board an overview of efforts so far. The report showed that the average age of the laid-off workers is 46.3, with more than a thousand eligible for retirement. Many of these individuals have not been in an education environment in many years, leading to what Deese called a "fear factor" for dislocated workers with regard to entering the education arena. As many as half lack high school credentials.

These workers are eased into the environment through customer-friendly Job Link Career Centers, hosted by a community college and local employment service office. The Human Resource Development program helps overcome that feeling of intimidation. "HRD is that first portal of access to other community college programs," said Deese.

Little gave specific statistics. Curriculum enrollment of Pillowtex employees totals 218 at the various community colleges. Continuing education enrollment, which includes short courses, basic skills and HRD is at 839 and rapidly increasing. This means that more than a fifth of the 4800 North Carolinians who lost their jobs when Pillowtex closed six weeks ago are already enrolled in community colleges.

Hundreds of displaced workers have received counseling or information. Small Business Centers and NC REAL offer extensive entrepreneurship and transferable skills training that identifies existing skills in individuals that could possibly lead to employment.

Little and Deese both stressed that while these efforts for Pillowtex are getting a lot of attention, these services for dislocated workers are available all across the state. Workforce Investment Act funds are in place in other locations as well.

In other action:

The State Board approved a new Construction Management Technology program at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, which should lead to employment opportunities for laid-off Pillowtex workers.

The State Board approved Dr. Stephen C. Scott as president of Wake Technical Community College, effective October 15. Scott told the Board that he was "excited about the tremendous potential of Wake Tech in the community." Scott is presently president at Lenoir Community College and has served as executive vice president in the System Office and president at Southeastern Community College.

The Board approved Joyce Cherry as interim president at Lenoir Community College, effective October 2.

The Board also approved Lynda K. McCulloch of Raleigh as Special Assistant to the President for Education Policy, effective September 15. Currently a senior adviser at the James B. Hunt, Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy, McCulloch was Senior Education Advisor to Governor Hunt during his third and fourth terms and worked for many years at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. McCulloch is a graduate of Campbell University.

Two new presidents already approved by the State Board appeared before the members for the first time. Dr. Mary Rittling, the third president at Davidson County Community College, said she looks forward to building on the "wonderful foundation left by Dr. Bryan Brooks," her predecessor. Dr. Rusty Stephens, the new president at Wilson Tech, told the Board that he would "work to demonstrate that their trust in him was well-placed."

-NCCCS-

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