Notes from the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council Meeting
November 19, 2008
Wilson Community College
Following Lunch at The Swamp, hosted by Grady Robbins the group convened at Wilson Community College.
Dr. Leutze introduce Scott Ralls, thanked him for coming and stated that the relationship between the university and the community college has never been stronger.
Dr. Leutze explained the background of the UCPLC and went on to review the process we began with – first, debating and deciding on priorities the group should pursue and then by dividing into individual committees to further debate the four areas we agreed would define issuesthat were most important to the region. He reviewed the notes from the October 7 meeting andnext reported on the program committee meeting, chaired by Dr. Larry Nielsen where it was proposed and agreed to coordinate a conference or education summit whereby we could ask regional K-12 school superintendents what regional higher education could do to assist them. The summit attendees would include area superintendents as well as representatives from the region’s schools of education and this would help us to further refine issues. He reported that he met with Z. Smith Reynolds, and they have agreed to underwrite a one-day conference for the purpose mentioned above. The goal for the conference would be to learn how our university system can respond to the needs of the region’s k-12 school systems, ie, rural, and high poverty education with an emphasis on administrative leadership and teacher education.
Dr. Griffin described a KIPP-Pride charter school in the City of Gaston where parents of students agree to a certain set of rules. He said they do things very differently than they do in public schools and they have reported a very high success. Perhaps we could use one or two schools and experiment.
Community College – How to decide – what the university would like is a center for Allied Health, center for K-12 gateway for graduate education and center for workforce development. These four facilities would be supported throughout the Upper Coastal Plains.
How to decide how the money can be divided. Not to be confused with the proposal from ECU to expand a physician’s residents program in either Wilmington, No. Halifax or Nash.
Disagreement with Rusty Stephens and Jim Sadler. These are ideas that have been discussed with the legislative delegation.
Scott Ralls – clarified that while B are still proposals, there will have to be further discussions with the community college presidents and then decide what is practical and desirable. Further discussions will be needed.
Program committee did not think that dividing the money equally would work legislatively and Jim Sadler said funds can be used for things like distance education, transportation and planning council plan specifics needs to occur and this groups need to do that.
Suggestion was to use some of the money to enhance the program at Nash Community Health. Can one facility compliment the other?
We need to know more
Erv Griffin of Halifax said would it be possible to get an instructor to come to Halifax to complete a nursing degree to a BSN. A two plus two program? Yes, this should be the kind of request we are looking for.
Erv will copy us on the letter he received and we will proceed to.
Building disposition is a definite distraction. Jim Leutze suggested to put together a small subcommittee to be chaired by Fred Turnage and four community college presidents and two others.
Rusty wants a university presence on his campus whether a portal for distance learning.
Dr. Leutze distributed the draft proposals and reviewed each item one at a time. Issue #C – 4-part time rather than two full time. NC State will hold the money and compensation will come from them. Likely the community colleges will be part of the hiring process.
#D – we should emphasize collaboration with community colleges.
Delete the final paragraph.
Include Dr. Griffin’s request for a two-plus-two BSN program at his campus.
There will be another meeting with the four community college presidents in December to try to refine #B to better