A JOINT RESOLUTION commemorating the north carolina community college system on the occasion of its fortieth anniversary and honoring those who helped create the community college system.

Whereas, the foresight, commitment, and endeavors of many who embraced the philosophy of total education, including Governor Luther Hodges, Governor Terry Sanford, Dallas Herring, Issac Epps (I.E.) Ready, and State Representatives Ned Delamar, Gordon Greenwood, Russell Swindell, and Edward Wilson led to the legislation creating a system of community colleges; and
Whereas, in the years following World War II, North Carolina began a rapid shift from an agricultural to an industrial economy; and
Whereas, with that change came an awareness that a different kind of education was needed in the State; and
Whereas, in 1957, the General Assembly adopted the first Community College Act and provided funding for community colleges and also provided funding to initiate a statewide system of Industrial Education Centers. These centers were to train adults and selected high school students in skills needed by industry; and
Whereas, on May 17, 1963, the General Assembly enacted the law that provided for the establishment of a Department of Community Colleges under the State Board of Education and for the administration of institutions in the Community College System. There were then 20 industrial education centers, six community colleges (three of which became four-year schools in 1963), and five extension units; and
Whereas, by 1966, there were 43 institutions with 28,250 full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments. In 1969, there were 54 institutions with 59,329 FTE. The system grew very rapidly, exceeding 10% annually nearly every year until the late 1970s. In 1974‑1975, growth reached the 33% mark; and
Whereas, the system continues to grow in enrollments nearly every year; and
Whereas, the original legislation placed the community college system under the purview of the State Board of Education and created a State Department of Community Colleges. In 1979, the General Assembly changed the State control of the system. A provision was made for a separate State Board of Community Colleges. The Board was appointed and organized in 1980. The new Board assumed full responsibility for the system on January 1, 1981; and
Whereas, in 1988, the North Carolina Community College System celebrated its 25th anniversary, recognizing that in its first quarter century of service, the system had emerged as the nation's third largest community college network, educating millions of students during its 32‑year history and employing thousands of faculty and staff; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Community College System has from its earliest days proudly pursued the philosophy of the "open door" by providing convenient and affordable access to any student seeking to benefit from the resources offered at a community college; and
Whereas, during the 40 years since that historic day in 1963, each institution of the North Carolina Community College System has been committed to providing workforce training and retraining, sustained support for economic development, and comprehensive services to communities and individuals; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Community College System has had from its inception as its primary mission the training of North Carolina's workforce; and
Whereas, in order to carry out that mission, the North Carolina Community College System supports the State's business and industry sector by providing a myriad of services, including focused industrial training, new and expanding industry training, small business centers, joblink career centers, and human resources development; and
Whereas, more than 800,000 adults now enroll each year in the North Carolina Community College System; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Community College System serves a broad range of persons with differing needs, skills, and interests by providing a wide range of educational opportunities, including basic skills (adult high school, general educational development (GED), adult basic education, and English as a second language); continuing education; college tech prep, curriculum (certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees), and college transfer; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Community College System is vital to our State's economic recovery, growth, and future success; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Governor Terry Sanford and the other individuals named in this resolution for their role in helping to create the North Carolina Community College System.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly congratulates the founders, leaders, supporters, faculty, staff, and students of the North Carolina Community College System on four decades of tremendous achievement. The General Assembly further charges these individuals with the task of making a great system better and pledges a continued partnership in this vital task.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Chair of the State Board of Community Colleges.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 4th day of June, 2003.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives