North Carolina Officials Struggle Over Educating Undocumented Immigrants

Diverse Issues in Higher Education
by Associated Press
Aug 15, 2008, 13:37
RALEIGH, N.C.
In a state where the commitment to higher education extends all the way back to the founding of the nation's first public university in 1789, North Carolina's community colleges just can't seem to get past the politics of illegal immigration.
North Carolina's Board of Community Colleges recently approved an independent study on the issues surrounding the admission of undocumented students into the North Carolina Community College System.
Four times since 2000, the nation's third-largest system of community colleges has changed its policy on students who are undocumented immigrants. Most recently, the system in May adopted the most restrictive policy in the country and barred undocumented immigrants from admission to its degree programs.
During an official hearing, System President Scott Ralls voiced his belief in the open door policy that has been the basis of student admissions for decades in North Carolina. Recognizing the complexity of current admission debate, Ralls said, ¡° ¡­ it is possible to craft policies to support our open door philosophy while also addressing many of the concerns expressed by North Carolinians regarding the admission of illegal immigrants.¡± He added that while future Federal or State action is unknown, ¡°enacting any policies regarding the issue of admission of illegal immigrants clearly lies within your authority.
North Carolina's system of 58 community colleges serves roughly 800,000 students, or about one out of every 11 of the state's residents. Only Texas and California, states with populations more than twice the size, run larger systems.
Only a tiny fraction of the North Carolina students ¨D 112 at last count ¨D are undocumented immigrants. Former system president Martin Lancaster has staunchly defended the decision to admit such students, arguing they are unlikely to leave the state and therefore will be part of its work force. [To read the entire story, go to: http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_11565.shtml ]