A house RESOLUTION honoring the leadership and foresight of those North Carolinians who created and established the community colleges and joining North Carolina's fifty‑eight community colleges and the community collegeS System Office while observing the FIFTIETH anniversary of the North Carolina Community College System.
Whereas, Dr. W. Dallas Herring responded to Governor Luther Hodges in 1957 and prepared a plan for industrial education that resulted in the establishment by the General Assembly of a statewide system of industrial education centers and the creation of a system of public junior colleges; and 
Whereas, Dr. Herring worked tirelessly with Governor Terry Sanford and others to merge the two systems into a comprehensive community college system encompassing workforce training and college studies; and
Whereas, the Omnibus Higher Education Act, also known as Senate Bill 72, was passed on May 17, 1963, by the General Assembly, creating the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges, which included the original 20 industrial education centers, along with six junior colleges and five extension units; and
Whereas, this act became effective on July 1, 1963; and
Whereas, in 1963, there were 31 community colleges with a total of 79,117 students; and
Whereas, since 1963, North Carolina has supported the growth of this education and training system into the 58 community colleges that serve all 100 North Carolina counties today; and
Whereas, today, North Carolina community colleges serve over 850,000 students annually; and
Whereas, the North Carolina Community College System has been recognized, nationally and internationally, through the decades as a leader in workforce development; and
Whereas, the 58 community colleges in North Carolina have responded to the call for employee preparedness for thousands of North Carolina businesses and industries; and
Whereas, millions of North Carolinians have taken their first steps toward technical and higher education certificates, diplomas, and degrees at these colleges through the years; and
Whereas, generations of North Carolina families have received education and training that has improved their quality of life; and
Whereas, the community colleges have been supported in their work through the dedication of faculty, staff, trustees, county commissioners, and State leaders; and
Whereas, community colleges have responded to the needs of their communities through service, support, leadership, and educational efforts; and
Whereas, leaders at the local, State, and national levels continue to recognize community colleges as offering pathways to successful careers and educational attainment; and
Whereas, the System serves one in eight North Carolina adults annually and continues to work toward improving student success at all levels through new accountability standards and a focus on data‑driven policies, decisions, and performance funding; and
Whereas, May 17, 2013, marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the North Carolina Community College System; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the leadership and foresight of those North Carolinians who created and established the community colleges and joins North Carolina's 58 community colleges and the Community Colleges System Office in observing the 50th anniversary of the North Carolina Community College System.
SECTION 2.  The House of Representatives expresses appreciation for the System's contribution to the workforce development of millions of North Carolinians.
SECTION 3.  The Principal Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the North Carolina Community College System.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.