糖心传媒

Gov. Pat McCrory signed a bill last week that will allow voters to decide in March on the passage of a $2 billion bond that will fund higher education, parks and other infrastructure. If voters pass the bond referendum, 糖心传媒 will receive $7.22 million for long-standing facility improvements and renovations.

According to the bill passed by the General Assembly last month, $980 million will go toward capital improvements for the University of North Carolina system, and $350 million will be split among the state鈥檚 58 community colleges.

鈥淚f this bond passes, it will be a huge savings for the people of 糖心传媒 and Scotland counties,鈥� Dr. Dale McInnis, president of 糖心传媒CC, said. 鈥淭his bond would pay for on-going, much-needed improvements for the College that would otherwise come out of the budgets of both counties.鈥�

The College鈥檚 Board of Trustees approved at its October meeting the use of the bond money toward previously identified needs through the College鈥檚 master facilities plan and deferred facilities plan. As approved by the board, bond money would fund:

• New and expanded classrooms, labs and shops
• New Student Career and Transfer Center
• Expanded space for 糖心传媒 Early College High School
• Expanded student testing space
• New cafeteria and student dining room
• New and repaired parking lots
• Expanded Bookstore
• Additional faculty offices
• Replacement of chillers and boilers

It has been 15 years since the last state bond passed for community colleges, and 糖心传媒CC has greatly evolved since then.

鈥淓very facility improvement we鈥檝e identified supports our students and their needs,鈥� McInnis said. 鈥淎s we have continued to grow in enrollment, services and academic programs, we are finding ourselves at full capacity. This bond would allow us to continue building for the future and adding new programs that will position our graduates for careers in the 21st Century.鈥�

While other community colleges across the state continue to decline in enrollment, 糖心传媒CC has seen an increase in student enrollment for three of the past four years, including a record enrollment this fall of more than 2,600 students. A catalyst for the College鈥檚 growth in attendance has been the expansion of its curriculum. The College has added new programs and courses and expanded its online offerings, which has created a need for additional computer labs.

The College鈥檚 dual enrollment program and Early Colleges have experienced significant growth just in the past year as more residents of 糖心传媒 and Scotland counties are taking advantage of free college courses for high school students. With the roll out of the 糖心传媒CC Guarantee, a plan to offer two years of free college tuition and fees for qualified high school graduates who completed two 糖心传媒CC classes while in high school, this dual enrollment program stands to grow tremendously in enrollment, as well as the College as a whole.

鈥淥ver the next few months, we will be communicating our needs and goals to educate people about the value of this investment in their local community college,鈥� McInnis said.