State Board of Community Colleges approves teacher preparation transfer degrees
RALEIGH, N.C. – The State Board of Community Colleges approved two teacher preparation transfer degrees Friday, paving the way for a larger pipeline of future teachers in North Carolina.
The two degrees — associate in arts in teacher preparation and associate in science in teacher preparation — have been in the planning for a year. The State Board also approved corresponding teacher preparation pathways for high school students in the Career and College Promise program.
The goal is to address a critical teacher shortage in the state, particularly in rural counties. Community colleges are in a position to recruit future teachers, including those from underrepresented groups, who may be more likely to settle close to home.
“Through these new transfer degrees and pathways, community colleges can help every community, especially in rural areas, ‘grow their own’ to help address the alarming shortage of well-qualified teachers,” said Peter Hans, president of the NC Community College System. “We will work with UNC and private universities to ensure a smooth transfer for community college graduates who want to become part of the next generation of great teachers.”
The degrees require 45 semester hours of general education courses and 14 hours of education courses, including one course with a focus on the science of reading instruction.
In other action on Friday, the State Board approved two new college presidents.
- Carteret Community College: Tracy Mancini, vice president of instruction and student support at Carteret Community College since 2016, was approved as the next president. Mancini also spent 17 years at Durham Technical Community College, where she was an English instructor, department chair, assistant dean and dean. Mancini holds a doctorate in community college executive leadership from Wingate University, master’s degrees from Duke University and the University of North Florida and a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary.
- Martin Community College: Wesley Beddard, associate vice president of programs at the NC Community College System Office since 2013, was approved as the next president. Beddard has experience at a number of community colleges in North Carolina. He was a dean at Beaufort County Community College, Fayetteville Technical Community College and Wilkes Community College. He began his community college career as an instructor at Craven Community College and previously was an instructor and administrator at Mount Olive College. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Campbell University, a bachelor’s degree from Atlantic Christian College and an associate degree from Mount Olive College.
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