North Carolina Now; 4277; Interview with Molly Corbett Broad

It's Tuesday July 22nd. Tonight's Number sation. The new president of USC in North Carolina. Now Welcome to North Carolina now I'm reading the tri so glad you could join us tonight. The new president of the University of North Carolina Molly Corbett Broad will be our guest the saving on this her first full week on the job. She'll be here to discuss her goals for the 16 campus you and see system also. Tonight we'll examine the growing trend of college athletes leaving school in favor of going pro. But up first tonight a partnership between business and the state's community college system. Supporters call it an economic lifeline for the state. Opponents call it corporate welfare. But whatever your view of the new and expanding industry training program operated by the

state's community college system has brought new business to North Carolina and new skills to many of its workers. Producer Clay Johnson shows us how four years ago Dwayne Williams needed a good job and General Electric needed good workers. They both found what they were looking for. General Electric wanted to reopen this plant in Durham to build aircraft engines there would be no traditional chain of command. Instead highly skilled workers would form teams that would manage themselves as an incentive to encourage G.E. to go ahead with its plans. The state offered to train its workers through Durham Technical and Community College. Under the new and expanding industry training program and so on we have this vision and thought about how we would do this. We weren't really sure. What would be required in training. So when we met with attack they really helped us formulate what kind of

employee and patient team building training that would be required to make this vision a reality. Next when Dwayne Williams saw that G.E. was looking for workers he applied and it almost overwhelms you see and everything that they want to do for as would put me up watch out. And that's what made me the most interested. It was something of an in tonal range which is six seven eight right through the Durham Tech training program Duane learned team building skills. Yeah possibly 16 people on the team and almost all decision was on the consensus and if you can't communicate with each other is it just hard to do it. So it helped us learn how to communicate better. Williams also got the computer skills he needed to develop production charts and models. Then I would apply that stuff using the computer makes a lot faster.

I just want to know that Williams learned technical writing skills with the right kind of give you skills and how to write. Planning to build a product. She began with 18 workers here. It now has about 180 all trained by the state through Durham Tech. Representatives of Durham Tech say the colleges spend about 40 to 50 thousand dollars a year training Jeet boys since 1993. But they say the return worth the investment. After all census workers have good paying jobs they spend lots of money in their communities and they pay both local and state taxes just the taxes that these people paying far outstrip the cost of the training it's like propound for GED itself has an annual tax bill amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars more difficult trying to get through.

North Carolina started the new and expanding industry training program in 1958 to attract new manufacturing plants to the state and encourage existing ones to grow. It was a pioneer program and the United States. Since that time it's been copied by many many other of the stage. This year the program became a victim of its own success. The governor and his industrial recruiters committed more training to industries looking to relocate to the state and the program's ten point eight million dollar budget could cover. So what has happened in this past year is we've had a tremendous economic development in North Carolina. Many new jobs created and it has been been in excess of what the funding for this program is really designed to handle. The legislature approved a four point seven million dollar emergency appropriation in April to make up the difference. But not without grumbling from a few lawmakers who called the payment corporate welfare.

Clearly it's a business incentive but the same time we are providing training programs for individuals for the citizens of the state. And once they have the skills of high tech skills they have those for life they can take those to that company for which they were trying to they can take go somewhere else so it's it's an investment in our people as well as an incentive to attract business to this great state industrial with tutors and Community College. Mr. Rader's call it a win win situation a win for the state and for companies like G.E.. I think the train train played a key role reopening the facility in a way we're doing William says. He wins too. He can now meet all of the challenges and responsibilities of building aircraft engines and salvage the skills that I learned through dumb tech training allowed me to better organize that stuff and just overall handle

things a lot better. Under the new and expanding industry training program the state will continue to train employees at G.E. and other participating facilities as long as they grow by at least a dozen new workers every year. Still ahead on the program an extended interview with the new president of the University of North Carolina. But first we turn to the news desk to welcome back an old friend Michel Louis that is so good to have you back welcome. Thanks Zoraida. Good evening everyone. Topping our news historian John Hope Franklin was in Raleigh today to address the North Carolina General Assembly. Franklin spoke this morning to a joint session of the legislature. The distinguished historian from Duke University was recently appointed by President Bill Clinton to lead a national dialogue on race. Franklin's message to the body was on the future of race relations education and economic equality. In North Carolina and when I wrote some years ago an essay called Lend room enough in it I emphasize the fact that in a

vast blessid land with virtually limitless natural resources it was not only unseemly but crudely selfish to devalue canonic opportunities to any person group on the flimsy pretense pretense that the resources won were not sufficient to go around to everyone regardless of race. Surely this is a land that has fission resources and sufficient genius for the development and distribution of the resources to extend its bounty to John Hope Franklin is the fourth dignitary this year to address the General Assembly. The other three were President Clinton Senator Jesse Helms and evangelist Billy Graham. There's still no budget agreement but state legislative leaders are encouraging local school superintendents to go forward with hiring plans for additional teachers. House Speaker Harold Brooks-Baker and Senate President Mark bass tonight sent a letter hoping to reassure school

officials that additional money would be forthcoming but the state constitution says spending commitments can be made only after the General Assembly adopts a budget. If the additional money does not materialize. School officials could be held personally liable for salary commitments. Part of the House budget proposal could add as much as 8 million dollars and future debt to the judicial retirement plan. The proposal would allow legislators who become judges or court clerks to count years served in the legislature at the higher salary range. In some cases lawmakers could double or triple their pension after serving as little as one year in the court system. Currently about 150 people stand to gain by the proposal as well as legislators or state employees who joined the system in the future. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather most of the state will see highs in the 80s. Boone may stay in the upper 70s while coastal areas will approach 90 cloudy conditions will spread across the state. There's a good chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms Stade wind mountain areas could see some locally heavy rain.

And in business news first time home buyers are being offered low interest loans through a state lending agency. Potential homeowners can subpoena or a mortgage rate at six point sixty five percent through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency. About nine hundred sixty five families statewide will be able to take advantage of the lowest rate ever offered by the agency downpayment assistance of up to three thousand five hundred dollars is also available for qualified buyers. And now for a look at what happened on Wall Street today. Our guest tonight holds what many believe is one of the most powerful positions in the

state of North Carolina. Coming to us from California where she was the executive vice chancellor of California State University. She is now the president of the University of North Carolina A16 campus system attended by more than 150000 students. It's a privilege to welcome back to North Carolina now Molly corporate fraud president of UN sea. Welcome president broad. Thank you. Let's talk a little bit about your first week on the job how are things going. Well it's very interesting the first few days on the job. A lot has to do with moving and driver's licenses. And getting ready to move into the house and into the office getting acquainted with the staff reviewing some of the agendas looking forward to the next meeting of the Board of Governors hearing status reports on the budget and where the legislature is on some of the most important issues so it has been an interesting couple of days.

Well with such a busy schedule we certainly appreciate you filling us in. Let's talk about your role of being the first North Carolinian to take this position. During your acceptance speech you had promised to be a quick study of the state and that you would learn what you can before you came here the last several months how you spent it for milieu rising yourself with North Carolina. Well folks from North Carolina have been very generous in sending me books and videotapes and products examples of the agricultural products of North Carolina so is I would be driving the freeways of California I would be listening to audiotapes about the highlights of North Carolina. And I've been doing a lot of reading and particularly found most valuable of the book about Bill Fridays period as president. The Linc book that is a biography. And Dick come to know in some detail from the inside. How the university addressed some of the major policy issues

of the 50s and 60s and and 70s. I visited all of the campuses I had a wonderful opportunity a whirlwind tour but a chance just before Commencement to visit each of the 16 campuses to visit with the faculty and with the administrative leadership. On those campuses I also had an opportunity to spend a day in the legislature and the opportunity to introduce myself and pay my respects to legislators in both houses and in the leadership and beyond into the committees spent some time with Governor Hunt. Which was very worthwhile. Spent some time with some of the business and community leaders visited the Research Triangle area so in the eight days over two different trips that I spent in North Carolina we filled them as much as possible.

His flight to the General Assembly as you know is in the middle of struggling to come to terms with a budget agreement. How do you see the UN seafaring in that budget process are you going to get your share of the financial pie. Well it is an interesting story in North Carolina and all across the country. And I should tell you that until the middle of last week the focus of my energies was on the budget development in California but across the country there are competing interests from welfare and health care and prisons and corrections. Some of which are coming as federal mandates that are shifting the priorities and introducing great pressure on legislative organizations legislative bodies in making decisions about allocations. The University of North Carolina has lost some ground in the share of the state budget. That is according to the university. If we are to serve the projected growth in enrollment

to fulfill our mission and to assist in the economic development of the state as well as the social development then it will be very important for the legislature and the governor to keep a clear focus on where higher education is in the long term priority scheme for the state. Despite the pressures coming from other areas and other men. Date from from those short amount of time that you've had meeting with the lawmakers and with the governors do you feel as though the lawmakers have that vision that you share that the university does deserve its its funding. Absolutely. One of the great characteristics of this state is a strong belief in the importance of the university and as one legislator expressed it to me in a note a week or so ago. We have entrusted to you and to your leadership the greatest treasure of the state of North Carolina.

There is a strong commitment and a strong belief. What is our responsibility in partnership with the legislature is to translate that conviction and that belief into an action plan that will help provide access to the growing in Romans in North Carolina and to provide training for the workforce so that the economy can be more competitive. Part of that access to you and see is due in large part to that to wish and level and the fact that it's been able to be kept low. Will you continue in the same vein as president Spangler has in his commitment to keep tuition low and how do you do that when state budgets are getting so tight and your costs are increasing low tuition is the single most important strategy in assuring access. North Carolina does not have a college going rate that even reaches the national average. We should aspire to a college going rate that is higher than the national average. Access and affordability are two

concepts that go hand in hand. And it's why any discussion of tuition in my judgment ought to be couched in the context of available financial aid to students and their parents deserve to know to have a predictable plan for tuition so that they can make their own family's financial plans to prepare for students entering college and competing completing their college degree. And sometimes it's so difficult to prepare when you have no idea where it's going to be helpful years from now. Present broad tell us about your vision for the University of North Carolina in general. The vision is to take this great treasure and to protect it. To preserve it and to enhance it so that future generations of university students will have access to the same fine quality university that is the primary

vision and my primary responsibility in the period in which I will serve as president of this university. Beyond that there are a number of very important issues policy issues that I know are essential to the state of North Carolina. Our partnership with K-12 our linkage with the community colleges the role that we will play in the technological transformation of the state socially and economically how we will fit in globalization that is redefining the economy around the world. These are general strategies and general issues. The specific plan that will evolve from that vision will be hammered out in consultation with the Chancellors the faculty the members of the board the legislature and the business leaders so that plan and vision will evolve over the coming months. And so I don't come

in with a vision or a plan that worked in California. I come with experience in working in a number of these areas. But the plan will be a uniquely University of North Carolina plan. President broadly hope is that plan that you will come back from time to time and and keep us updated on it. In the meantime I want to thank you very much for your time this evening. You're very welcome. Thank you. There are few things here in North Carolina that are more popular than college basketball

but many young athletes here in the state and across the country are opting to skip over part of their college years to try their luck in the pros. Are these athletes taking their best chance to build a future for themselves and their families or are they giving up their education in pursuit of an empty dream. Our report tonight is produced by Paul Adelson the college degree. It's what every student strives for the ticket to wisdom to success to financial prosperity. Or is it. Good evening and welcome to the 1997 NBA draft at the Charlotte Coliseum. With last month in Charlotte a record number of undergraduates selected to forego their diplomas to seek their fortunes in the NBA draft. Is this a signal of irresponsibility on the part of the players and the universities they attended. Les Robinson an athletic director at North Carolina State surprise doesn't think so.

And to get a degree the whole idea is to be able to provide for yourself to learn to be educated and provide for you and your family for the rest of your life. So young man that is going to say take Kenny Anderson a few years ago left after two years at Georgia Tech for six million dollars. If he can have someone Gatty men to help him handle that money I don't think it's bad for a person do that. I think that's one of the reason they're going to college. Easy to say for players whose skills and talent are worth millions. With the ninth pick in the 1997 NBA draft the Toronto Raptors select Tracy McGrady from Philly. Last month Tracy McGrady was drafted by the NBA as Toronto Raptors without ever registering for college courses. But not every youngster who dreams of playing in the NBA makes it to the league. I may or may and they're old Hardy both left college to take their chances in Charlotte

and both came away without an NBA contract. For Hardy a Winston-Salem State Junior the choice to leave before his senior year was not an easy one. I see my parents a season and we sit down and we talk about the bills and stuff I've accumulated in my years of school over over $13000 for low paying for school. They have a summer school and all that fact as a mayor Mayor who has a wife and son leave Shaw University in Raleigh after his sophomore year made his decision without consulting his coach Keith Walker who thinks Mays move was premature. You know it and I've told him sense that I think the best thing in my opinion of course for him to do was to probably stay in school and finish school and his degree and he could better still you know support his family in the long run.

Not everybody should be in college. So if you go to the draft early and you didn't want to be in college or you go out of high school and didn't want to go to college maybe you're doing the right thing there even if you don't go back to college. One thing Darryl Hardy will not miss about college is the grueling life of the student family Ali. He says it's good. Toughest job on campus. We sort of practice a night so we practice may start some dirty I mean I get into my dorm until 12 a night. And we're double morning 8:00 and more of a class and then leave it to a class for gain and The Economist wondering about classified high class school and travel representing my school when I come back I want quiet to know what I'm missing I'm acquired to make up that word and stay on top for the most part student damn plates do well in the state for North Carolina universities and the Atlantic Coast Conference have graduation rates the national average and

one Jamieson more at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill considered entering the NBA draft this year. What changed his mind and now plans to complete his education. Jerry Stackhouse who left the Tarheels early to play for the Philadelphia seventy six years two years ago is now back on campus this summer taking courses toward his diploma. I am here in the Carolinas. And of course there is Tim Duncan the overall number one pick in this year's draft. Duncan would have easily been drafted by an NBA team last year but elected instead to remain at Wake Forest and earn his diploma. Unlike Tim Duncan neither Hardy nor May were selected in the NBA draft but both will be playing professional ball next year. Party has several offers from teams in Europe and many has signed a contract to play minor league ball with the Raleigh cougars despite their immediate plans. Both men are aware that they may never make it to the NBA. Mays

says basketball is not his only ambition. I want to be we're going to give you a good hearty an education major with 10 credits left to complete. Also has definite plans for an alternative career teaching the one I love. My joy in my dream has always been work with always and he was almost given next to me and that's the best way to give back to the community. Both man Hardy plan to return to campus to complete their degrees but they'll have to pay for their courses themselves because NCW regulations for bid any student who has accepted money to play professional sports for receiving scholarship assistance. That's all we have time for tonight. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you back here tomorrow. Good night.