Notes from the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council

Gateway Technology Center, Rocky Mount

November 5, 2009 4:00 p.m.

Present:W. Baker, B. Beasley, A. Bryant, R. Cage, B. Carver, S. Dickens, L. Goodspeed, E. Griffin, T. Grimes, C. Harrell, Q. Huggins, D. Lamm, J. Leutze, R. McMahon, S. Mason, T. Morris, G. Robbins, J. Sadler, F. Turnage, A. Warren, Z. Zuiches,

The following agenda items were discussed:

  1. Update on Higher Education Specialists. Alice Warren reported that the search committee has met for the second time to review the 70 applications that have been submitted for the education specialist positions. Interviews will begin in two weeks and the process should be completed before the end of the year. She stated that theapplicants have strong qualifications as a Masters degree was a requirement. The selection committee has been ranking the candidates and seems to proceeding in a structured way. The target is to have the specialists in place before the holiday break.
  1. UCPLC Website Demonstration. Alice Warren reviewed for the group via computer how the new website outline is taking shape. She reminded the group that any of the information can be considered as place holder and can be changed and/or moved around. Following a demo, a discussion included several suggestions for inclusion, including:

-A statement of mission for the Council (Lynne Goodspeed will provide this from earlier documents

-An obvious link or reference that this is a UNC-Tomorrow initiative

-An independent URL and listing under the UNC Website.

-A list of our current priorities and objectives,

  • K-12 education and access to higher education;
  • access to healthcare;
  • economic development/workforce development

-A list of current list of Council Members, Program Committee as well as names of the local legislative delegation

-Organizational structure.

-Under the Gateway Technology Page, we will be adding a page with photos and information on our new education specialists.

-An additional tab for academic offerings from the community colleges, as well as information on Halifax Community College’s PRIDE Program.

-Pictures on the website that more clearly represent the Council’s efforts and priorities.

Alice and/or Lynne will distribute the web address to everyone before the next meeting for another review.

  1. Update on School Based Healthcare Clinics. Dr. Leutze stated that a number of NC counties havebeen successful with school based health clinics and besides the obvious health access benefit to the communities, there may be a separate benefit in that it may also be a way to get adults into the school setting in a non-threatening way. In an earlier presentation by Helen Hill, she stressed the importance of the enthusiastic support by the community, the superintendent and the principal. Mr. Rick McMahon, Rocky Mount school superintendent,added thathe believes there is an extreme need in his area for such a clinic and he can possibly identify some funding to help start the project in one of his schools. He has also identified a school he would like to use as a pilot for his district. In a discussion that followed, Wick Baker added that he can and will assist with helping with community buy-in as he believes this to be a positive step for this part of the state.

With no objection and by unanimous support, it was agreed that we, as a group, move forward on this project. Dr. Leutze will talk to Wick Baker further on the buy-in from the medical community. Mr. Turnage asked county representatives to assist on their end.

  1. Dr. Ervin Griffin gave a presentation on the Roanoke Valley Nursing Bridge Program. He reviewed the grant abstract recently submitted for a RN to BSN program in the amount of $2 million, and added that even if the grant does not come through, Halifax Community College is committed to proceeding with the program. They expect to receive notification the first of the year and he will report back at that time.

On the issue of HCC’s PRIDE Program, Dr. Griffin gave a brief update that they are working hard on core subject areas with labs and tutors and besides working onacademics, they are working with life skills as well. There are currently 68-70 who attend the PRIDE functions on a regular basis. Dr. Griffin stated he is confident about the direction in which they are moving.

  1. Grant Update. A grant update on the Golden Leaf and Kellogg submissions will be given by Cathy Hanby-Sikora at our next meeting.
  1. Other. Dr. Sadler added that AHEC is very interested in supporting some nursing initiatives for the next year andSondra Williams of the Community College office is looking at a variety of ways to coordinate this with community colleges. He added that there is a definite need for more advising to assist students who desire to transferfrom community colleges to a four-year university program. While the issue of advising has been discussed earlier with the group, Dr. Sadler stated that FSU has electronic advising software at Ft. Bragg, and perhaps we could initiate something in the region along this line.

Dr. Griffin would like to look for an in-school health clinic for his school.