news-record.com

The new partnership between N.C. A&T and GTCC isn't only logical, it's necessary.

Not to mention a great example of approaching problems from a One Guilford perspective.

Stanley Battle, chancellor at A&T for a year now, began his tenure by emphasizing academic quality. For years, A&T had been increasing enrollment by accepting a high proportion of applicants. But retention and graduation rates were low. It didn't make sense to enroll more students who were likely to drop out. Battle said it was time to value quality over quantity.

Subsequently, the university raised admission standards, effective this fall, and developed an aggressive scholarship program designed to attract stronger applicants. One consequence: Students who in the past might be welcomed at A&T now would be left out.

But not without another chance. Last September, Battle told A&T's student newspaper those students could attend a community college, complete a two-year program and come back to A&T.

Now that vision has been incorporated into an agreement with GTCC. The community college will accept students who just miss the cut at A&T and put them through a two-year associate's degree course. If they make it, they'll be guaranteed a place at A&T and an opportunity to begin halfway to a four-year degree.

More importantly, they'll be much better prepared to succeed than they would have been straight out of high school.

The deeper issue has to do with a K-12 system of education that loses too many students before high school graduation and hands diplomas to others who are unready to meet the demands of work or higher education. A&T and GTCC are moving to address some of the problems, joining with Guilford County Schools in a Cosby Kids initiative aimed at improving the reading, math and science skills of black and Hispanic children in grades four, six and eight. Eventually, that effort should yield more students who are properly equipped to step directly from high school to university campuses.

One institution can't tackle these challenges alone. Problems have to be addressed at many levels but with a common purpose.

That objective is to give young people the skills to thrive in a changing economic environment. A more capable work force, in turn, will attract companies that create good jobs. All of Guilford County's educational institutions can contribute, and among them they have plenty of assets. They just have to make best use of them.

The new agreement between A&T and GTCC recognizes that more high school graduates must have access to higher education but also must meet higher standards. Those who can't get through the door at A&T immediately might just need additional time and another means of entry. GTCC can give it to them. The collaboration will be good for students, good for A&T and GTCC, and good for Guilford County.