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Polk declares April as ICC Community College month

COLUMBUS—As nearly half of undergraduate college students in the nation today are enrolled in community colleges, the Polk County Board of Commissioners declared April as Isothermal Community College Month. 

County commissioners met during a special meeting on Monday afternoon and heard from ICC President Margaret H. Annunziata. 

Following is the resolution commissioners unanimously approved: 

Isothermal Community College Month

WHEREAS, the more than 1,300 community and technical colleges, public and private, in the United States have contributed enormously to the richness and accessibility of American higher education. Nearly half of all undergraduate college students in the Nation today are enrolled in community colleges; and

WHEREAS, by providing educational opportunities at costs and locations accessible to all who are qualified, community and technical colleges have greatly enhanced the opportunity for every ambitious student, young or old, to enter a postsecondary school program. As community-based institutions, our schools provide varied programs and offer specialized training for more than one thousand occupations; and

WHEREAS, this community is served well by Isothermal Community College, which provides technical training, workforce development programs and college transfer opportunities in more than 90 areas of study, along with cultural opportunities through Continuing Education, the Foundation Performing Arts and Conference Center and WNCW 88.7 FM; and

WHEREAS, Isothermal Community College has institutional resources including the

Powers Promise and other scholarship programs that allow virtually every resident in Polk and Rutherford counties to attend Isothermal tuition-free; and

WHEREAS, Isothermal students, faculty and staff have received numerous state and national recognitions including the highest honor given to a student by the North Carolina Community College System, the Gov. Robert Scott Student Leadership Award.

WHEREAS, Isothermal Community College faculty and staff serve the global higher education community on state and national boards; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the important contribution of community and technical colleges to our total educational system, in 1985 the Congress authorized and requested

President Ronald Reagan to issue Proclamation 5418 establishing a National Community College Month.

NOW, THEREFORE, We, the Polk County Board of Commissioners recognize April 2021 as Isothermal Community College Month.