Bill Filed to Restructure, Enhance Efficiency of NC Community Colleges System
Proposal empowers the System President to be the chief administrator
Changes will create a more coordinated system
Raleigh, N.C. — Senate Republicans filed a bill to overhaul several appointment processes and operational aspects of the North Carolina Community Colleges System. Senate Bill 692 — “Community College Governance” — empowers the next Community Colleges System President to have a greater say in the administration of the System and the 58 campuses, creates new standards for electing local community college presidents, and restructures the State Board of Community Colleges and local boards of trustees.
“Workforce development is one of the most pressing issues facing North Carolina,” bill sponsor Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Amy Galey (R-Alamance) said. “Employers and workers are counting on our community colleges to tackle the challenge of training our residents in high-demand fields. It’s time to create a more efficient and nimble system to meet our current workforce development needs.”
The current community college system does not reflect an organized and coordinated effort to promote community colleges across the state. This bill allows the System President to deploy resources more effectively across North Carolina and allows our community colleges to work together in a coordinated approach.
Given that the State Board of Community Colleges has been bogged down by making administrative decisions that are better handled by the Community Colleges System President and staff, Senate Bill 692 empowers the Community Colleges System President to be the chief administrative officer of the system and gives them the executive authority over the Community Colleges System office.
“The president of the Community Colleges System needs to be able to run the system,” bill sponsor Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union) said. “The State Board will be able to focus on the policy decisions it should make instead of being tied up by tasks best performed by the System President.”
Administrative tasks shifting from the State Board of Community Colleges to the System President include reviewing reports and programs related to the success of community college students who transfer to a UNC System school and making recommendations for programs and courses of study. Under the bill, state funds cannot be used for programs that are not approved by the state board, and any new program must come from the recommendation of the System President.
Senate Bill 692 restructures the State Board of Community Colleges to eventually have the General Assembly elect all the members of the board. The new structure would ultimately reduce the number of appointees to the board from 22 to 18. Temporarily, the board would be reduced to 21 members with the General Assembly appointing 18 and the Lt. Governor, Treasurer, and Labor Commissioner — or their designees — serving on the board as well. Starting in July 2027, the General Assembly would appoint all 18 members of the board. No current terms would be cut short by this proposal.
The proposal updates the structure of the local boards of trustees for community colleges. The local boards would have 12 members, with eight of the trustees being appointed by the General Assembly and four members being appointed by the county board of commissioners. Currently, most boards have 13 members and appointments are divided among the local school board, the board of commissioners, the governor, and a non-voting member of the student body.
“It is imperative that local officials play a role in determining the future of their community college,” bill sponsor Sen. Tom McInnis (R-Moore). “By having the county commissioners and the General Assembly members appoint the boards, we will be able to have boards that best represent the needs of our residents, students, and employers.”
For selecting local community college presidents, the bill creates mandatory contract terms that boards of trustees must follow during the election process. These new standards would allow the System President to review each contract or contract renewal, make a recommendation for approval or denial of each contract, dismiss the president if cause for dismissal or termination is met, and make a recommendation on approval or denial of any person elected and submitted by the local board.
