RELEASE DATE: September 15. 2006
CONTACT:
Clearing the pathway to teaching a major issue for the State Board of Community Colleges
Raleigh – “If we are to have a viable Lateral Entry program, there are some things we need to understand,” Program Committee Chair Norma Turnage told the State Board of Community Colleges today (September 15).
Turnage reported to the Board on the growing number of community colleges pursuing offering lateral entry to prepare teachers for public schools under legislation passed in 2005.
Turnage told the Board the process that allows community colleges to offer qualified individuals coursework leading to a teaching certificate had major “stumbling blocks.” She said those impediments were included in the legislation that gave community colleges the authority to offer lateral entry courses to help ease the massive teaching shortage.
In order for a person to qualify for the community college Lateral Entry program, he or she must have held a bachelors degree for at least five years before undertaking the program of study; must hold at least a bachelors degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education; and must be employed as a teacher in a local school administrative unit.
“These are frustrating issues,” said Turnage. She also referred to the requirement that a portion of the required classes must be taught by a university and the inconsistent standards among those universities. She suggested that since most of the “roadblocks” were imposed politically, it would take political action to get them removed. “We must plan accordingly,” she said.
Turnage’s comments came after the Board had just approved new lateral entry programs at Davidson County Community College (Lexington) and Montgomery Community College (Troy). These two brings the total number of colleges approved to offer the program to 19 of the 58 community colleges. Some colleges are waiting for curriculum changes or for agreement with local education associations.
The colleges approved to offer lateral entry:
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Bladen Community College Central Piedmont Community College Cleveland Community College Coastal Carolina Community College Edgecombe Community College Davidson County Community College Gaston College Guilford Technical Community College Halifax Community College
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Lenoir Community College Montgomery Community College Richmond Community College Roanoke-Chowan Community College Robeson Community College Rockingham Community College Sandhills Community College Southwestern Community College Stanly Community College Vance-Granville Community College
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The Board also amended the North Carolina Community College System Mission Statement. Policy Chair Dr. Stuart Fountain said the new language is more consistent with the System’s biannual budget request. Language also reflects a more cooperative relationship with the public and private universities in North Carolina.
The amended mission follows with the new language underlined:
The mission of the North Carolina Community College System is to open the door to high-quality, accessible educational opportunities that minimize barriers to post secondary education, maximize student success, develop a globally and multi-culturally competent workforce, and improve the lives and well-being of individuals by providing:
§ Education, training, and retraining for the workforce, including basic skills and literacy education, occupational, and pre-baccalaureate programs.
§ Support for economic development through services to, and in partnership with, business and industry, and in collaboration with the University of North Carolina System and private colleges and universities.
§ Services to communities and individuals that improve the quality of life.
In other action the Board:
· Approved BioNetwork Center grant award recommendations in three areas:
BioNetwork Innovation Fund - $ 690,613
BioNetwork Equipment Fund - $ 2,351,392
BioNetwork Centers - $ 3,095,817
· Approved a lengthy list of proposed budget priority items. System Staff will work list to consolidate those priorities into a shorter list for review by the Board in October.
· Approved the designation of three sites in Johnston County as Off-Campus Centers for Johnston Community College.
· Approved revisions to the Curriculum Procedures Reference Manual. The revisions include course and program information and a new section of frequently used curriculum terms.
· Approved the guidelines and criteria presented by the Community College Facilities Grant Process Committee. This approval clears the way for colleges to submit their proposals to receive up to a million dollars of the $15 million provided by the General Assembly to fund competitive grants to meet equipment needs on campuses. Funds received must be matched dollar-for-dollar with non-state funds.
· Received a report indicating that the Joint Committee comprised of State Board members and Blue Ridge Community College trustees will meet on October 11 at Blue Ridge CC to receive a final report from Dr. Marvin Joyner and will discuss recommendations resulting from that report.
The Board will receive the Halifax Community College presidential candidate’s name at the October meeting.
-NCCCS-
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