RALEIGH: North Carolina students starting their undergraduate degrees at North Carolina's community colleges isn’t news. College-transfer is offered at all of North Carolina’s community colleges and enrollment is increasing.

What is news is the survey reviewed today (August 17) by the State Board of Community Colleges, which shows that thousands of students can finish undergraduate degrees on community college campuses, too, thanks to strong partnerships with public and private colleges and universities.

According to the survey, which is still being updated, more than 2,200 students are now enrolled in "baccalaureate completion programs" at about half of North Carolina’s community colleges. Four-year colleges and universities offering the degrees through these programs include at least 16 institutions – including members of the University of North Carolina System; independent colleges and universities in North Carolina; and Virginia’s Old Dominion University.

"Baccalaureate completion" programs bring the resources of senior-level colleges and universities to community colleges. The senior institution provides the instruction and grants the degree. The community college provides the site. In some cases, the instructors travel to the community college campus. Some programs use distance learning technology, such as two-way video or on-line courses. Others combine several approaches.

H. Martin Lancaster, President of the North Carolina Community College System, emphasized that the partnership approach is the right mode for North Carolina as the state works to encourage more people to pursue education after high school.

"Our state university and fine private institutions rank among the country's best. I'm pleased that so many of them are working with our community colleges to extend their resources to adults who need baccalaureate degrees to move ahead, but can't afford to leave jobs and families to earn them. These programs will be particularly important as we try to meet the tremendous teacher shortage. Twelve universities are now offering teacher preparation programs at 16 community college campuses, enrolling 900 students. it is the kind of cooperation that will be required to address the critical shortage of teachers in the coming years."

(For more information about baccalaureate completion, contact Dr. Delores A. Parker, Vice President for Academic and Student Services, (919) 733-7051, ext. 413)

In other action:

The State Board approved language designed to ensure younger students attending the colleges do not displace adult students. The language approved makes it clear that academically gifted students under 16 who are admitted to community colleges will do so on a "space availability" basis.

The State Board approved temporary rules in July that enable gifted and mature students under16 years old to take curriculum courses at the state’s community colleges. The action was in response to legislation passed by the General Assembly. However, the State Board wants to make sure that the adult students for whom community colleges were created will not lose an education opportunity to the younger students.

A complete list of requirements is on the NCCCS Web site, www.nccommunitycolleges.edu. A direct link to the admission criteria is on the home page.

The State Board also recognized the service of E. B. Hale of Rocky Mount whose term on the board ended June 30. State Board Chair James J. Woody called Hale a "very sincere" supporter of the NCCCS.

The State Board also approved the following construction and property projects:

Reallocation of Funds

The Board of Trustees of Craven Community College, as per Section 3(b)(1) of Senate Bill 912, requests approval to reallocate $545,716 (code 4100824D) of their "New Construction" 2000 state bond funds that were specifically allocated to their New Bern campus. The Board of Trustees has determined that these funds are not needed at this site and would like to reallocate them to their Havelock Center (code 4100824B). This reallocation will not involve moving funds from a site outside the main campus county to a site within the main campus county.

Project Approval

Alamance Community College – Project No. 1201 – Renovations-Phase I – Estimated cost is $100,000, composed of all state funds (code 4101886N). The 2000 state bond funds shown in this project will be disbursed only in accordance with the cash flow model.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College – Amend Project No. 1134 – Campus Heating System-Enka. Total cost is $509,000, composed of state HB 275 funds (code 49920). Project is amended to remove 2000 state bond funds due to a decrease in project cost.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College – Project No. 1200 – Parking Lot Paving and Lighting-Enka. Total cost is $200,000, from a 1999 Session special appropriation (code 40020).

Central Piedmont Community College – Amend Project No. 926 – Science Building 2^nd Floor Upfit and Lab Upgrades. Total cost is $516,278, composed of $427,980 local funds and $88,298 state funds (code 49920). Project is amended to transfer state funds to project No. 984.

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Central Piedmont Community College – Amend Project No. 984 – Refurbish Garinger Building 1^st and 2^nd Floors. Total cost is $161,702, composed of all state funds (code 49920). Project is amended to increase state funds due to an increase in project cost.

Central Piedmont Community College – Project No. 1143 – Colony Court I Upfitting. Total cost is $571,789, composed of all local funds.

Craven Community College – Amend Project No. 907 – Aviation Maintenance Technology Building, Classroom Building, and Library Building-Havelock. This project is amended to create projects 907A and 907B, to show 2000 state bond funds, and to move local funds to project number 1076 which is to begin in July 2003.

907A – Aviation Maintenance Technology Building. Total project cost is $5,000,000, provided by a grant from the state Department of Commerce.

907B – Classroom and Library Buildings. Total cost is $4,000,000, composed of $2,000,000 local funds and $2,000,000 state funds (code 40070-4100824B). The 2000 state bond funds shown in this project will be disbursed only in accordance with the cash flow model.

Craven Community College – Amend Project No. 661 – Roof Replacement Building C. Total cost is $419,724, composed of $250,000 state funds (code 49920) and $169,724 local funds. Project is amended to increase local funds for an increase in project cost.

Sandhills Community College – Amend Project No. 952 – Addition and Renovation of Automotive Shop. Total cost is $822,839, composed of all local funds. Project is amended to increase local funds for an increase in project cost.

Vance-Granville Community College – Project No. 1157 – Parking Lot. Total cost is $191,680, composed of all state funds (code 40070-4100889B). The 2000 state bond funds shown in this project will be disbursed only in accordance with the cash flow model.

Vance-Granville Community College – Project No. 1198 – Phase II Renovation and Repairs. Estimated cost is $660,000, composed of all state funds (code 40070-4101889N). The 2000 state bond funds shown in this project will be disbursed only in accordance with the cash flow model.

Acquisition of Real Property

The Board of Trustees of Central Carolina Community College requests permission as per G.S. 115D-20 to acquire 20 acres on which to relocate their Telecommunications Center. This tract is located within the Lee County Industrial Park and has frontage on Womack Road. The Industrial Park is located on US Highway 1 and is approximately four miles north of the current site. Consideration of this item is contingent upon approval by the Policy Committee of the State Board of Community Colleges for Central Carolina Community College to relocate their Telecommunications Center to this site.

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