Notes from the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council Meeting

Notes from the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council Meeting April 1, 2009 Gateway Technology Center, Rocky Mount

Present: D. Byerly (for D. Tyson), S. Dickens, E Griffin, D. Griffin (for B. Carver),C. Harrell, D. Lamm, G. Robbins, J. Sadler, R. Stephens, F. Turnage, G. Wiggins-Hicks, J. Zuiches

Guests and Presenters: John Allen, Eric Evans, Carissa Rudd –Workforce Development; JB Buxton – Gates Foundation, Alice Warren – NC State, Tom White, NC State,

1. Minutes of the March meeting were approved.

2. Dr. Sadler gave update on the status of the proposed RN-BSN program between North Carolina Central University and Halifax Community College. He reminded the group that this initiative was presented at the November meeting by Dr. Ervin Griffin of Halifax Community College and then followed up by a meeting at Halifax Community College. It included representatives from North Carolina State University, East Carolina University, Halifax Community College and the Halifax Regional Medical Center. Currently the program is scheduled to get underway this year with a cohort of 25 students beginning with general courses. A grant has been applied for and he expressed confidence that it will be approved. Dr. Leutze added that a request was made to the UCPLC Program Committee for $8,100 to assist with a survey and advertising and that was approved and added that, in his view, this can be used as a model program to be duplicated in other areas.

3. A presentation on workforce development was given by John Allen and Eric Evans, Chair and Vice Chair of the Turning Point Workforce Development Board. They explained that the Nash, Edgecombe and Wilson Careers Enhancement Project (N.E.W. Project) is a partnership that will impact the workforce and local economy. The project is funded with a grant, partnering with Turning Point Workforce Development, Nash Community College, Edgecombe Community College and Wilson Community College. Their goals are to expand on the existing work of job profiling, upgrading skills and training, creating pathways to job opportunities in allied health and advanced manufacturing, and increasing opportunities for economic development. Additionally, they reviewed regional strategic information via a Power Point presentation and stressed that while the numbers reflect trends, they don’t have to predict the future. They gave a demographic overview noting that the growing Hispanic population in some areas has become challenging. In the area of collaboration between the counties, they also noted that each county has their individual economic initiatives and they do not necessarily reach out to their neighbors even though there is an obvious benefit with working across county lines. In the area of allied health, there are several areas that are in high demand for which they recently received a $50,000 planning grant. They anticipate stimulus funding to be available for youth to go back to summer programs, etc. A full copy of the information presented is filed with the report.

Comments and questions included a brief discussion about the skill level of a current high-school graduate. In the “olden” days, people could graduate from high school, or not, work hard and earn a living. Today, the course of study prescribed in the high schools is just not enough education to give students the skill sets they need. Programs lack junior achievement and should be strengthened. Dr. Rusty Stephens added that besides what we are doing, what we need to be doing is creating a whole new approach for those who are in the pipeline.

4. Proposal for UCPLC staffing – Mr. Turnage reviewed the revised Program Committee recommendations for UCPLC staffing to the group for approval. Because the size of the group was smaller than usual, it was agreed to re-send the proposal via email within 10 days.

The proposal was re-submitted to the group via email and it was approved by a majority vote. There was an urgency to move forward with the proposal so that NC State could begin the new hiring process which would include advertising, screening and interviewing applicants so the positions could be filled in the beginning of the new fiscal year.

5. Dr. Leutze reviewed the agenda for the April 16 Education Summit and encouraged all members of the UCPLC to attend. He reviewed the list of attendees, including featured speakers, Dr. Bill Harrison, NC CEO of the State Board of Education, and Dr. Doris Williams of the Rural School and Community Trust. What we plan to do is ask school superintendents how the universities can help them to do their jobs better, and then we will ask for ideas from the higher education representatives in attendance. Representatives from various after-school programs will give overviews of their programs, and we will also have representatives from Z. Smith Reynolds, Golden Leaf and the Gates Foundation. The objective will be to identify one or two ideas or programs that the k-12 school systems and regional higher education institutions can jointly pursue as grant opportunities as it is increasingly obvious that State funding is not going to be adequate to do the things we need to do. Dr. Leutze also encouraged to the group to invite other community leaders to attend.

6. Other business. Mr. Thornell will be resigning his position on the board. His replacement will be Jim Gray, the new president of NC Wesleyan College who will begin his position in June. (Dr. Gray was unable to attend today’s meeting, but looks forward to joining the group.)