1. The Appalachian Learning Alliance A Model for Connecting Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges to Meet Community Needs NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

2. NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

3. NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM

4. The System Perspective H. Martin Lancaster, President North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce

5. Who We Are The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce Fifty-eight Comprehensive community colleges and one specialized technology center enrolling more than 760,00 North Carolinians a year. Third-largest community college system in the United States

9. What We Do The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce North Carolina’s Community College System is the state’s primary provider of workforce training and education, literacy and adult education. We open the door to opportunity by providing Education and training for the workforce Support for economic development Services to communities and individuals

10. Closing the College-Going Gap The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce Transfer relationships healthy and growing High-quality courses, small classes, faculty devoted to teaching, strong support make for a great learning environment in critical first two years Transfer agreements with all UNC campuses and many independent colleges and universities smooth the way for 64 hours of credit for community college graduates Community college transfer students are doing well, with GPAs as comparable to those of “native” students

11. Shortage … Challenge … The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce “North Carolina faces a serious teacher shortage, one of the nation’s worst. The state has a rapidly growing student population, a public school faculty that includes many baby boomers approaching retirement, and a serious problem with retention of young teachers. In all, state officials estimate that they will need 80,000 new teachers over the next decade, while North Carolina colleges and universities only produce 3,000 education school graduates a year.” Winston-Salem Journal, August 2001

12. What’s New … The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce Baccalaureate-completion programs on community college campuses Degree PARTNERSHIPS with senior institutions, not independent baccalaureate degrees from community colleges Critical need for teachers driving growth

13. “Home-Grown Teachers” The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce Community colleges can help “home grow” teachers for neediest areas Programs can focus on people who live, work, have families in communities, many may already be studying at community colleges Programs must come to the students

14. Many Partners The System Perspective North Carolina Community College System Preparing North Carolina’s World Class Workforce Appalachian Learning Alliance is one of largest and most successful of several partnerships Teacher preparation not the only focus, but one of the most important in North Carolina

16. The University Perspective Thomas W. Fisher Director, Office of Extension Instruction Appalachian State University Boone, NC

17. Definition of Region The University Perspective The geographic area served by the Appalachian Learning Alliance is the region of North Carolina served by ASU for over 50 years Area also served by 10 of the 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System Each College is within a two hour drive of ASU

18. Blended Approach to Instruction Face to face courses Two way compressed audio video courses Web based courses Multiple methods The University Perspective

19. Disciplines Offered The University Perspective Geared toward preparing students for jobs in their home communities Teacher education and training responsible for nearly 70% of the coursework Other programs offered include: Social Work Public Administration Computer Science Library Science Business, including the MBA Criminal Justice

20. Student Services Orientation Photo Id’s Registration Computer account – On-line Services Library Support Textbooks & materials Ongoing advisement Financial Aid The University Perspective

21. Ongoing Collaboration The University Perspective “Top down” communication and attention to programs and organizations Continuing dialogue Meetings on ASU Campus

23. The Community College Perspective Dr. Nancy H. Womack Dean, Arts & Sciences Isothermal Community College Spindale, NC

24. Service to the Underserved The Community College Perspective Students who probably would not otherwise have the opportunity to earn a four-year degree Students who do not live in easy proximity to a state university and who, for financial or personal reasons, cannot move to the University

25. Promotion of Success Students served by the Alliance are highly motivated and are appreciative of the support they receive from both the University and the Community College They know they are obtaining a quality education They are recognized for their accomplishments through the local press Because they remain in their home communities, they have local job opportunities The Community College Perspective

26. Creation of Partnerships Community College and the University work together to make sure the extension programs are successful Course offerings to support University requirements Facility arrangements Technical support The Community College Perspective

27. Establishment of a Win/Win Situation for Everyone Both the Community College and the University benefit from enrollment growth Both institutions learn to value each other The Community College Perspective

29. The Trustee Perspective Fred J. Whalen, Trustee Area Vice President – First Citizens Bank Morganton, NC

30. Significance to Economic Growth … Challenge Only 10% of the adults in Burke County, NC have earned Baccalaureate Degrees (1990 Census) The county’s unemployment rate rose from just over 2% in July 2000 to 7.3% in July 2001 The Burke County Public Schools have between 100 and 200 teaching positions to fill each year The Trustee Perspective

31. Limited Choices Students must move away to attend a four-year College or University and spend money on room and board Students must commute more than 45 miles one way to attend the closest public university Students must spend more than $600 per course to attend private colleges within a reasonable commuting distance The Trustee Perspective

32. Significance to Economic Growth … Result Attracts new types of Business and Industry to the area Meets the demand for a professional workforce “Opens the Door” to Baccalaureate and Graduate degree programs The Trustee Perspective

33. NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM The Appalachian Learning Alliance A Model for Connecting Two-Year and Four-Year Colleges to Meet Community Needs