Staying a Step Ahead: Higher Education Transforming North Carolina’s Economy

1. Staying a Step Ahead:Higher Education Transforming North Carolina’s Economy Skills Expert Group Northern IrelandOctober2006 H. Martin Lancaster President North Carolina Community College System Source: Presentation by Dr. Parker Chesson to State Board of Community Colleges, August 17, 2006

2. Timeline for Study • 2004 legislation – HB 1264 • Joint study – UNC and NCCCS • Final Interim Report – Jan. 17, 2006 • Preliminary Recommendations – Feb. 1, 2006 • Final Report – July 21, 2006 North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

3. 40,000 Foot View • Look at NC’s current and future economies • Project trends • Look at programs/services of UNC and NCCCS • Educational programs and facilities needed in the future Photo: Bill Birkemeier, US Army Corps of Engineers North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

4. Observations • Changes in jobs – decline of traditional industries • Fundamental demographic trends • Global competition • NC is a collection of very different regions • NC has done enviable job in higher education (UNC and NCCCS) North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

5. Mission Academics K-16 approach HMI signature programs Distance learning and facilities Research, technology transfer, economic structure, etc. Legislative actions Recommendation Areas North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

6. Mission Recommendations • NCCCS and UNC – consider adding item regarding collaboration • UNC – review of mission of each institution, focusing on economic development role North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

7. NCCCS MissionSeptember 2006 revisions in green • 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 which improve the quality of life.

8. Academic Recommendations • Processes – program reviews, approvals • Funds for collaboration and start-up costs • Soft skills and general education North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

9. Academic Recommendations (continued) • In general, both UNC and NCCCS have been responsive to state needs • Major program gaps • Focus on emerging industries • Advanced manufacturing • Advanced materials • Biotech and pharmaceuticals • Computing/software/internet • Design and film • Logistics and distribution North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

10. Academic Recommendations (continued) • STATE SHORTAGES – 3 KEY AREAS: • Teachers • K-12 • Community college faculty in some areas (e.g. nursing) • Nurses • Computing (programmers, software, Internet, etc.) • In all these and others – collaborative programs between UNC and NCCCS North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

11. Academic Recommendations (continued) • Key themes for NCCCS among 17 academic recommendations: • Program review/approval process • Focus on collaboration • Focus on providing nurses and teachers • Production of community college faculty • UNC and NCCCS emphasis on STEM • UNC and NCCSS together -- interface with business advisory groups • Student tracking – Pre K-16 North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

12. K -16 Approach Recommendations • Create statewide K-16 Council • Priority considerations: • Reducing need for remedial education in both NCCCS and UNC • Closing achievement gaps between majority and minority students • Also some recommendations for UNC’s historically minority institutions (HMIs) North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

13. Distance Learning and Facilities Recommendations • Distance learning • What is distance learning? Definitions? • Lack of system-wide planning in both UNC and NCCCS • Infrastructure needs, particularly NCCCS North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

14. Distance Learning and Facilities Recommendations (continued) • Facilities • Maximize use of current facilities • Additional sites – joint UNC-NCCS study • Priority on telecommunications infrastructure – higher than “bricks and mortar” • Priority for emerging industries and critical needs (e/g/ nursing) • Priority on annual maintenance and repair • Consider state-wide endowment fund North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

15. Research, Tech Transfer, Economic Development Recommendations • Research – UNC focus • Technology transfer and economic development • Economic transformation structures One-stop, UNC/NCCCS economic transformation office (Web-based) • BOG/SBCC joint committee – focus on collaborative initiatives, annual report, etc. North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

16. Research, Tech Transfer, Economic Development Recommendations (continued) • Regional economic development partnerships – role for UNC and NCCCS on governing boards • ESC – produce employment projections for 7 regional partnership areas North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

17. Research, Tech Transfer, Economic Development Recommendations (continued) • Rural economic transformation • Establish 3 pilot, regional rural enterprise zones with substantial state funding – State, UNC, NCCCS • Focus: • Rural business cluster • Non-agricultural entrepreneurship • Redirection of agriculture North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

18. Legislative Action Recommendations • Funding formulas for NCCCS and UNC should be revised – fund instruction regardless of how or when delivered (distance, summer, etc.) • Remove SBCC from rule-making requirements of Administrative Procedures Act North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

19. Summary • Total of 68 recommendations • No magic bullet for “economic transformation” – but, central role of education • Major gaps; teachers, nurses, computing • Emerging industries • Must be nimble, collaborative, more risk-tolerant • Greatest asset – willingness to collaborate North Carolina Community College System H. Martin Lancaster, President www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Fifty-eight Institutions Educating and Training a World-Class Workforce

20. Staying a Step Ahead:Higher Education Transforming North Carolina’s Economy H. Martin Lancaster, President North Carolina Community College System www.nccommunitycolleges.edu Source: Presentation by Dr. Parker Chesson to State Board of Community Colleges, August 17, 2006