RCCC Starts Selection Process
Committee Evaluating Applications for President

          SALISBURY, N.C. -- An expanded presidential search committee has started the process of choosing the best candidates to be Rowan-Cabarrus Community College's next leader.

          A 26-member committee met for the first time Feb. 19 to discuss how it will review and evaluate approximately 40 applications for RCCC president. The full committee will meet at least twice more to reduce the number of candidates to a group the RCCC Board of Trustees will interview.

          The expanded search committee is comprised of members from Cabarrus and Rowan counties, including RCCC trustees, faculty and staff members and representatives from the local school systems, chambers of commerce, economic development commissions, businesses and other colleges.

          National Search and Education Associates of Cary, N.C., is working with the college as a consultant. Donny Hunter, president of the firm, gave an orientation presentation at the Feb. 19 meeting and explained how committee members will go about evaluating and selecting the best candidates. At this stage in the process, the candidates' applications will remain confidential to protect their privacy.

          The Board of Trustees wants to complete the selection process in time to have the new president in place by the start of the 2008-09 academic year.

          Last April, RCCC President Richard Brownell announced his plans to retire in June 2008. Brownell has led the college as president for 30 years.

           Rowan-Cabarrus Community College is a comprehensive, community-based institution of higher learning, serving the citizens of Rowan and Cabarrus Counties. RCCC offers approximately 40 programs of study in business, health and human services and engineering technologies at multiple campus locations. RCCC annually provides more than 2,000 course offerings, serving an enrollment of approximately 20,000 adult students. RCCC programs include an associate degree in arts and sciences, an associate degree in applied science, and diploma and certificate programs focusing on workforce training, continuing education and basic skills education.

           In addition, RCCC provides the education and job-training programs needed to meet many of the workforce demands of the North Carolina Research Campus, under construction in Kannapolis, N.C.

           For complete details, see the RCCC website at www.rowancabarrus.edu.