New Policy To Be Considered
BY SUSAN USHER
At their April 21 meeting, Bruns
wick Community College trustees
will consider a new policy relating
to continuing education class size
and course repetition.
The proposed policy comes on the
heels of a class reporting and
records audit conducted by the State
Department of Community Colleges
that identified some BCC continuing
education students as having had ex
cessive repeats in an off-campus au
tomotive mechanics class.
At the time the audit findings
were released in February, BCC
President W. Michael Reaves said
that the college was in the process of
reclassifying some courses from oc
cupational to practical skills or com
munity service, and monitoring oth
ers more closely to make sure stu
dents didn't repeat them too often.
As a result of audit-related adjust
ments BCC's budget was cut by be
tween SI 1,000 and SI2,000, or
about three-tenths of 1 percent.
At the time of the audit, the state
department had no established
guidelines for its 58 campuses to
follow in determining how often a
student should be allowed to repeat
a class.
It was J. Todd Parker, the depart
mental auditor assigned to BCC,
who suggested in his report that tak
ing a class five or more times would
raise questions about whether it
were an occupational training class
or a hobby class.
The auto mechanics class was cit
ed in an April 4 article in The
Raleigh News & Observer as an ex
ample of "a persistent problem cited
by department auditors" of allowing
students to repeat the same coursc
many limes. Of nine students en
rolled in the auto mechanics c lass in
the 1992 spring quarter, seven had
taken the class a total of 244 times
since the class was first offered in
1980.
The article suggested that com
munity colleges are "padding" class
rolls with students to increase rev
enues. Community colleges receive
a large portion of their funds based
on "FTEs," or the number of full
time equivalent students enrolled.
What an FTE is worth varies by the
type of course. Non-degree occupa
tional extension courses generate an
average of S2.029; literacy program
FTE, S2.893; and curriculum FTE
(for students in degree or diploma
programs), $3,037.
However, community college of
ficials have defended allowing such
repeats, saying they meet an ex
pressed in their local communities.
Sincc the audit. Reaves said "ap
propriate personnel action" has been
taken against the BCC employees
"responsible for the situation" in the
local continuing education depart
ment.
BCC's just-hired new dean of
continuing education, Jerry Thrift,
formerly of Rowan-Cabarrus
Community College in Salisbury,
drafted the proposed policy in con
sultation with Parker. Upon appawal
by trustees, the policy is expected to
be effective with summer quarter
classes.
For occupational extension class
es, the department is to make "every
effort" to determine in advance of
scheduling that the class will have
adequate enrollment to operate ef
fectively and cfficiendy, with an an
ticipated class size of 10 students
considered sufficient. Exceptions
must be approved by the dean.
Students will not be allowed to
repeat classes more than two times
in an academic year or five limes
cumulatively. Course plans and out
lines will be reviewed periodically.
Some repetitions will be considered
legitimate, such as to keep up to date
in content area, to achieve personal
educational goals or to maintain cer
tification.
Expected participation of at least
10 people should also be the mini
mum for community service classes,
which arc expcctcd to represent "ef
fective and efficient expenditure" of
community service block grant
funds.
Repetition is to be monitored in
relation to students' personal goals
and course learning objectives, and
limited to five times unless the class
is self-supporting.
In the literacy program, Adult
Basic Education labs will continue
operating as such, with students to
be counted for FTC purposes only
when in attendance. General
Educational Development classes
arc to have an anticipated class size
of at least 10 students. Studcms will
be allowed to repeat courses as
needed. They are to be encouraged
to progress at a comfortable rate in
light of their own personal circum
stances and progress is to be moni
tored.
According to Reaves, the college
relies on the state department's audit
system to help the school stay within
state and local policies through vis
its to campus and telephone confer
ences, and implements auditors'
suggestions in a timely manner.
Anne Marie Bellamy, public in
formation officer, said Thrift,
Reaves and other BCC officials are
hoping that the concerns about Ki t
production being expressed
statewide will result in a new and
better way of funding community
colleges.
'There must be a better 'way to
fund programs other than the num
ber ofpeople in class and the number
of class hours," said Bellamy.
BCC staff members have partici
pated in past systemwide efforts to
come up with a more equitable
funding mechanisms that take in to
account the size of the school and its
patterns of growth. For instance, as
one of the smallest schools in the
system, BCC has higher overhead
costs for individual classes because
of small enrollment. At the same
time, it is growing, both in numbers
of students and the number of pro
grams offered, but little "growth
money" is available and funding for
one year is based on the prior year's
FTE production. That makes it diffi
cult to establish new programs. BCC
and three other community colleges
joined efforts to obtain private grant
funds in order to establish several
new allied health programs, includ
ing phlebotomy and medical records
technology.
Bob Scott, president of the state
community collcgc system, said that
the department's audit system
works, bccausc problems arc cor
rected when identified. He also said
the department is working with the
legislature to clarify rules and proce
dures in order to protect the integrity
of the system and the quality of its
ollenngs.
Among other changes, the state
legislature's Educational Appropria
tions Committee is looking at sever
al possibilities for altering program
funding and placing on how courses
are offered, Bellamy said. These in
clude limiting the number of repeti
tions allowed; making more classes
self-supporting; charging (in at least
some instances) senior citizens
and/or other groups that currently do
not have to pay tuition under North
Carolina law; and eliminating or re
ducing some programs.
Some specific suggestions being
eyed include limiting in-prison
courses offered to literacy only and
reducing funds used to support shel
tered workshops for the adult devel
opmental^ disabled.
Some of the suggestions under
consideration were recommended by
the Government Perfonnance Audit
Committee. That committee pro
posed shifting toward a funding sys
tem that puts more emphasis on the
actual cost of programs and less on
student enrollments.
Baromctric pressure dropped to
28.76 inches and wind speeds
peaked at 70 miles per hour during
the March 13 winter storm, accord
ing to the monthly climatological re
port of the National Weather Service
Wilmington office.
Normal baromctric pressure is
29.96 inches of mercury.
The weather warmed a bit in
March with an average temperature
of 52.7 degrees, but the average was
still 1.7 degrees below normal.
Wannest temperature of the
month was 81 degrees on the 10th.
Weather Service Gives March Data
The low of 22 degrees on the 15th
broke the record for the day of 26
degrees set in 1932 and was ihe low
temperature for the month. The mer
cury dipped below freezing on eight
days during March.
Rain fell at an above-average rate.
The total for March reached 6.34
inches, well above the normal 2.46
inches. The greatest 24-hour rainfall
occurred on the 12th and 13th with
1.81 inches. On the 13th, 1.76 inch
es of precipitation fell, setting a new
record for the day and breaking the
1.18 inches set in 1911.
The only snowfall of the month
occurred on the evening of the 13th
when a trace was measured. The
13th is notable also as the only day
that thunderstorms occurred at the
New Hanover County Airport.
During March there were 10 clear
days, six partly cloudy days and 15
cloudy days. Sunshine for the month
was 70 percent of possible.
The average wind speed for the
month was 10 mph. The highest gust
at the weather station occurred on
the 13th, with a speed of 70 mph.
The pressure of 30.68 inches on
the 15th was the high for the month.
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Unwelcome Visitor
An alligator sunbathes on the lakebank behind the home of Donna Salmon off Copas Road in Shal
lotte on a sunny day last week. Salmon contacted wildlife officials to remove the gator.
RED CROSS ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Storm Victims Can Seek Disaster Aid
BY SUSAN USHKR
Brunswick County residents af
fected by the winter storm that hit
the coast three weeks ago can still
seek assistance from the Cape Fear
Chapter Red Cross Disaster Service
Center.
An outreach site opened Tuesday
and continues in
operation
through today
(Thursday) from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
at the Emcr
" gcncy Services
Jp Building at the
^ Brunswick
County Gov
ernment Center
FRAZlER at 30|ivia saJ'j]
Chapter Manager Jo Ann Frazier.
"We'll be primarily working with
families who have already applied
for assistance," she said. "However,
those who have not applied yet can
also come in."
Applicants arc helped on a walk
in basis, with no appointment need.
Assistance is available also at the
American Red Cross chapter office
at 1102 S. 16th St., Wilmington.
Hours there are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon
day through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to
6 p.m. Sunday.
Those needing help alter the out
reach site in Bolivia closes may call
the chapter disaster service center at
1-919-251-1789.
"We will make an appointment. If
they can't come to Wilmington, we
will come back to Bruns. Cty. We'll
keep coming back as long as people
arc needing assistance," said Frazicr.
She said this phase of the
agency's national disaster operation
follows the damage assessment
phase. After the March 13-14 storm,
the local Red Cross chapter set up
sites in Brunswick, Pender and New
Hanover counties to meet immediate
emergency needs, and is now offer
ing additional help.
So far 111 families in the three
county area have sought assistance;
most arc from Brunswick County,
said Frazicr.
"These are mainly families who
don't have insurance and who have
had roof damage to their home?
shingles off, a tree or limb falling
and causing serious damage."
Assistance from the Red Cross is
based on need, not loss, Frazier said.
A case study is completed on each
family to determine that need. The
agency will not assist with repairing
damage to vacation homes, only to
homes that can be documented as
primary, year-round residences.
Frazier said that the Red Cross
disaster service center isn't to be
confused with any Federal Emer
gency Management Agency office
that might open should the area re
ceive a disaster declaration. How
ever, if such a center opens, the Red
Cross will make referrals from its
list of applicants for aid.
Breakfast To
Benefit VFD
The Shallotte Point Volunteer Fire
Department will hold a breakfast
from 8 until 11 a.m. on April 10 at
the firchouse on Piggott Road.
Diners may choose from pan
cakes and sausage; grits, eggs and
sausage; or ham biscuits.
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Imperial
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Prices Start at $219 Set
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Sale in Progress thru May 1 st
THOMAS P. McNAMARA
Attorney at Law
Former United States Attorney for the
Eastern District of North Carolina
concentrating in the areas of
CRIMINAL LAW
PERSONAL INJURY
and
richard c. Mcelroy, hi
Attorney at Law
concentrating in the area of
BANKRUPTCY LAW
Announce their availability to represent
Brunswick County clients
Local office hours by appointment
TOLL FREE 1-800-782-1811
4600 Marriott Drive (27612)
Suite 250 Telephone: (919)782-1801
Post Office Box 30518 Telefax: (919)782-3228
Raleigh, North Carolina 27622
C1BC3 THC BHUNSW)CK BLACON