For Release: IMMEDIATE
Contact:
Public
Affairs
Date: December 16, 2005
TOP TEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE NEWS STORIES IN
NORTH CAROLINA IN 2005
The Public Affairs Office of the North Carolina
Community College System has selected the following stories as the
"Top Ten" news items from the community college system in 2005. For
more information about a particular story, contact the Public
Affairs office at the number above.
1. General Assembly budget and policy support of community
colleges is among “the best ever” said System President H. Martin
Lancaster.
H. Martin Lancaster, President of the North Carolina Community
College System, said when the General Assembly passed the state
budget for 2005-2007 in August, “I am pleased that the General
Assembly recognized the need for and funded the highest priority
items of the North Carolina Community College System. These include
additional salary increases for our community college instructors
and professional employees, critical funding for our BioNetwork,
equipment needs, enrollment growth, entrepreneurial training, and a
new Customized Training Initiative for North Carolina.” See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/News_Releases/HML_Budget05.htm
2. An Independent Study Finds that
Community Colleges Deliver Double Digit Returns for Students and
Taxpayers.
CCbenefits, a
national economic research firm, found students graduating from
North Carolina community colleges enjoy an 18.6% annual return on
their investment. Stated differently, for every dollar invested by a
student they will receive $4.24 back in future, higher earnings over
about 30 years. The study also indicated that every dollar of state
and local tax money invested in North Carolina community colleges by
taxpayers generates a return of $2.74 in direct state and local tax
receipts over that same time. The report shows North Carolina
community colleges deliver a solid 16.8% return on taxpayer’s
investments. According to the study, North Carolina community
colleges also account for $1.4 billion in the North Carolina economy
(equal to approximately 52,000 jobs).
See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/External_Affairs/EconomicImpactStudyCover.htm
3. State Board of Community Colleges Elects First Woman and First
African American Chair.
Hilda Pinnix-Ragland of Cary, an executive with Progress Energy, was
elected chair of the State Board of Community Colleges in July,
succeeding James Woody of Roxboro. Pinnix-Ragland is the Vice
President of Northern Region Energy Delivery Services for Progress
Energy. . Pinnix-Ragland received the Outstanding Business Leader
Award from the Cary Chamber of Commerce in 1998 and was named one of
the "Women of Note" by the African American Hall of Fame in 1999.
Governor Jim Hunt first appointed her to the Board in 2000 to fill
an un-expired term and Governor Easley re-appointed her in 2003. Her
term expires in 2009. See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/News_Releases/Pinnix_RaglandSBCC_Chair.htm
4. Governor Easley Signs Bill Allowing Community Colleges To
Provide Programs of Study for Lateral-Entry Teachers.
In July, Governor Easley signed into law House Bill 563 permitting
the State Board of Community Colleges to provide a program of study
for lateral entry teachers to earn a teaching certificate to be
implemented no later than May 1, 2006. Lateral entry programs
prepare adults who already have baccalaureate degrees in other
fields to become certified teachers. Across the state, community
colleges are already working with universities on "2+2" partnerships
that allow students to remain in their home communities, take
university education courses on community college campuses and earn
their teaching degrees. See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/News_Releases/lateralentrybill.htm
5. State Board of Community Colleges Grants Tuition Waiver for
Katrina Victims; Colleges Help Katrina Survivors.
In September, the State Board of Community Colleges granted a
tuition waiver for evacuees of Hurricane Katrina who had already
paid community college tuition in their home states. The proposal
also allowed an in-state tuition rate for evacuees who enroll for
the first time. “We are happy to be able to help in this way,” said
Hilda Pinnix-Ragland, chair, State Board. “Education is so essential
and job preparation will be vital as these individuals begin to
rebuild their lives. This action will make that transition a bit
easier.” Throughout September, community colleges in North Carolina
sent donations of money and supplies to the hurricane-stricken Gulf
Coast. Community college personnel also donated their time,
particularly in emergency services.
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/Connections/ccnews035.pdf
6. Community College Alumni Lead the Way.
Dr. Karen McNeil-Miller, a graduate of Isothermal Community College,
became president of the Kate B. Reynolds Trust in January 2005.
Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee,
received the 2005 Outstanding Alumni Award from the American
Association of Community Colleges in April. Hicks is a graduate of
Southwestern Community College. Doris Jones, a graduate of Forsyth
Technical Community College, received the Lifetime Achievement award
from the Piedmont Regional Association of Volunteer Administration
in June. McNeill-Miller, Hicks and Jones are just three community
college graduates who have become successful in their communities.
Contact Peggy Beach, External Affairs, beachm@nccommunitycolleges.edu
7. Marines at Coastal Carolina Community College Learn Arabic.
Since January 2003, more than 500 personnel from the US Marine Corps
and US Navy have completed an Arabic course through Coastal Carolina
Community College in Jacksonville. The course teaches Modern
Standard Arabic, the formal language that is written and spoken
throughout the contemporary Arab world. Basic grammar, military
vocabulary, and conversational Arabic are emphasized. Graduates are
expected to be familiar enough with the Arabic language that they
won’t have to rely on an interpreter.
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/Connections/docs/ccnews034.pdf
8. "Staying a Step Ahead" Listening Tour
In 2004, the General Assembly, through HB 1264, mandated a study to
identify the role played by higher education, including community
colleges and universities, in responding to North Caorlina's
economic and workforce challenges. In early 2005, System President
H. Martin Lancaster joined UNC President Molly Broad in a three-stop
"Listening Tour" to gather ideas from industry, education and
government leaders for the future of the state's major higher
education systems. See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/External_Affairs/May05cover.htm
9. The New and Expanding Industry Program Continues Its Success.
In a report to the State Board in August, Dr. Larry Keen, NC
Community College System Vice President For Economic And Workforce
Development said that the New and Expanding Industry Training (NEIT)
Program provides a strong incentive for business location and
expansion. "We are on the upswing in our industry training," said
Keen. Keen’s report shows the number of NEIT projects increased from
121 in 2004 to 164 in 2005. The number of trainees increased from
10,117 in 2004 to 12,398 in 2005. In 2004-2005, the new businesses
served almost doubled to 70 and there were 94 expanding businesses
served. Industry satisfaction with training provided was high
regarding expectations (98%), impact (91%), and effectiveness (93%).
In November, Site Selection magazine named North Carolina the state
with the top business climate.
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/News_Releases/NEIT_SBCC_Aug05.htm
10. North Carolina's Community Colleges Earn International
Stature, Continuing Praise
In 2005, North Carolina's community colleges reinforced their
already significant stature as international leaders in workforce
preparation and economic development. A few examples from a long
list of global partnerships efforts include:
• Thailand once again called on system and local community college
leaders for help in developing its new community college system. In
February, state staff, State Board members, local community colleges
leaders and trustees traveled to Thailand to help train Thai
trustees, building on earlier partnerships in workforce training and
small business development. See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/Connections/docs/ccnews033.pdf
• H. Martin Lancaster, system president, received an honorary
doctorate from the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland in June,
in large part in recognition of the substantial partnerships now
underway between North Carolina institutions and colleges and
technical schools in the United Kingdom. See
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/External_Affairs/UKexchangecover.htm
• A large delegation from some of China's leading higher education
institutions visited Fayetteville Technical Community Colleges and
several other sites.
http://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/News_Releases/Chinahorton.htm
-NCCCS-____________________________________________________________________________
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