An aging workforce, uneven growth, and a shrinking middle class were a few of the challenges the University of North Carolina (UNC) Tomorrow commission heard about during a community forum on Oct. 4 at Southwestern Community College.

The commission’s guest appearance in Jackson County was to listen to community leaders and residents suggestions on how to improve the state’s university system.

The commission, formed earlier this year, will identify how UNC can meet the needs of the state’s communities.

“The purpose of today is to listen to you,” UNC Board of Governors Chairman Jim W. Phillips Jr., told audience members at Meyers Auditorium. “Our intention through this process is to meet the needs of the people of North Carolina.”

About 100 people attended the community forum and were given the opportunity to state their concerns to a panel of board of governors and commission members.

A line-up of Jackson and Macon county business and community leaders took to the microphone to state their concerns about their county’s needs, as did a contingent from Henderson County.

Mark Leonard, CEO and president of West Care Health Systems, said one of the challenges facing his organization is a shrinking workforce. He said finding experienced nursing and pharmaceutical staff is getting tough.

“It takes about 100 days to fill a registered nurse position in the operating room,” Leonard said. “And it takes even longer to find pharmacists.”

The shortage of teachers in Jackson County concerned Sue Nations, superintendent of Jackson County Schools.

“We desperately need more teachers,” she said. “Especially teachers in math and science.”

She suggested that university officials consider offering teachers incentives to continue their education.

“You also need to encourage teachers to earn a master’s degree,” Nations said. “Teachers who have a master’s degree can be very effective in the classroom.”

Some agreed that the forum was valuable because it allowed the commission to become more familiar with each community’s wants and needs.

“This is an excellent way to find out what’s going on in the community,” Macon Bank CEO and President Roger Plemens said.

During the forum participants were asked to complete a survey. The information gathered from each survey will be compiled and examined by a 15-member scholar council, which is comprised of faculty members from the 16-campus system.

Since the beginning of September, the commission has been collecting information from 11 forums held across the state.

The council will present board members with the information, which will help members develop a priority list addressing communities concerns.

“The priorities set are going to be driven by the response now,” Phillips said.

The board will then develop a future plan for the university and communities for the next 20 years. Some of the concerns stated by citizens will be addressed in the beginning of 2008.

“There are some things we can just do,” Phillips said.

Such issues as building a stronger working relationship with various community colleges will be addressed right away, Phillips said. But other problems such as how to better serve a rural population and produce more teachers will take more strategic thinking.

UNC Board of Governors member Ron Leatherwood of Haywood County agreed with Phillips.

“We are looking at cooperation between the communities and the school districts to see how to better prepare students for the business world,” Leatherwood said.

Once all the data is received the board members will begin discussing and establishing solutions to some of the state challenges.