The Bridge to the Next Century: A Commentary by the National Advisory Panel.

In February 1988, a National Advisory Panel was brought together to discuss the role of North Carolina's community colleges in a rapidly changing economy. This paper summarizes the findings and suggestions that emerged from the meeting. Chapter I examines the original purposes and current mission of the state's community college system. Chapter II considers the changes taking place in North Carolina that will affect adult education and training, focusing on economic trends, technological challenges, educational shifts, and demographic projections. Chapter III looks at those members of the workforce who fall below the national average in educational attainment and economic prosperity, and the social and economic costs involved in neglecting their educational and training needs. While acknowledging that there is no simple answer to the issue of functional illiteracy, the paper advocates a more integrated approach to basic skills education and vocational-technical training. Chapter IV offers recommendations for transforming the North Carolina Community College System, including: (1) the adoption of a mission statement that stresses the mastery of the academic and occupational requirements of the workplace and the technological needs of business and industry; (2) the creation of a governance structure that would enable the system to act in concert and allow for innovation and flexibility at the institutional level; and (3) the development of processes for measuring quality and performance, and the establishment of incentives for continuous improvement of the teaching/learning process. A paper suggesting issues for further study is appended. (AJL)