Breaking

New

Ground

2011

A n n u a l

R e po r t

20 1 0

2

N.C. Rep Patsy Keever, N.C. Rep. Ray Rapp, Asheville Mayor Terry Bellamy,

U.S. Rep. Heath Shuler and A-B Tech President Dr. Hank Dunn turn dirt

to celebrate the Rural Broadband Initiative, which will expand broadband

access throughout the state.

A-B Tech broke ground with new programs and initiatives in 2010-11, creating educa-

tional opportunities for

our students to keep them

competitive in today’s job

market.

1. WE ARE forging

ahead to meet the

most critical needs in

our master plan by

replacing and renovating

outdated buildings and

equipment.

2. OUR COLLEGE joined

Achieving the Dream,

a nationwide initiative

for community colleges

to identify strategies to

improve student success

and increase retention

and completion rates.

3. THE COLLEGE added

its voice to the global

dialogue by establish-

ing a new Institute for

Climate Education

designed to educate

citizens about climate-

related issues.

4. WE OPENED A primary

care clinic on campus for

employees and students

to receive basic health

care at a minimum cost,

regardless of insurance

coverage.

These are only a few of the

new initiatives at A-B Tech.

You can learn about others

in the pages that follow. As

you will see, A-B Tech is

moving forward, preparing

to build on creative innova-

tions to benefit not only our

students, but our community

as well.

– Dr. Hank Dunn

President ’s Message3

It has been an

honor for me

to continue

leading A-B Tech’s Board of Trustees

during this exciting time

of growth and oppor-

tunity. The College is

changing with our com-

munity’s needs and our

board is changing, too. I

am delighted to welcome

six new members who

have joined us since I was

appointed chair.

Tom Alexander was

appointed by the

Governor’s Office. He is

a business development

manager for Taylor &

Murphy Construction, a

member of the Buncombe

County Planning Board

and treasurer of the

AdvantageWest Board of

Directors.

Troy Ball, President

of Ball Properties,

was also appointed by

the Governor’s office.

She serves on the

Board of the Western

Executive Residence

of the Governor and is

co-owner of Whisper

Mountain in Leicester.

Joe Brumit, Owner/

President and CEO

of Brumit Restaurant

Group, was appointed by

the Buncombe County

Board of Commissioners.

He has been a member of

the A-B Tech Foundation

Board of Directors since

2002 and served as chair

in 2007.

Trustee Message

4

David Wyatt, Chair

Tom Alexander Troy Ball

Kaye A. MyersDon C. Locke

Bobby Capps, co-owner

of Blue Ridge Funeral

Service in Mars Hill,

was appointed by the

Madison County Com-

missioners. He and his

wife, Becky, started

Capps Funeral Home in

1972, and opened their

new, renamed facility in

2002.

Dr. Don C. Locke,

Distinguished Professor

Emeritus at N.C.

State University, was

appointed by the

Asheville City and

Buncombe County

boards of education. He

also served as Director

of the Asheville

Graduate Center, as

well as Director of

Diversity and Multicul-

tural Affairs at UNC

Asheville. 

Dr. John Parham, Jr., a

primary care physician

at the Charles George

VA Medical Center,

was also appointed

by the Asheville City

and Buncombe County

boards of education.

Please join me in

welcoming our new

members and I look

forward to continue

working with you to

help A-B Tech break

ground.

- David Wyatt

John Parham Mandy StoneVice Chair

Carol Peterson Ray Spells

Mary Ruth FowlerJoe Brumit Bobby Capps Richard Hurley

Jonathan WoodyStudent Government

Association President

William A. Hart, Jr.

A-B Tech has

the largest

enrollment of

any institution of higher education in

Western North Carolina.

The College is the

eighth largest of the 58

community colleges in

North Carolina.

A-B Tech serves

approximately 28,000

community residents

each year.

The College has served

more than 300,000

students since its

founding in 1959.

One in three residents of

Buncombe and Madison

counties has taken a class

offered by the College.

An A-B Tech associate’s

degree graduate makes

35% more than a student

with a high school

diploma at the midpoint

of their careers.

More than 80% of

former A-B Tech students

live and work in our area

98% of A-B Tech

graduates live and work

in North Carolina

Our “alumni” from

the past 30 years add

$200 million per year

in business and family

income

What do our students

and clients think of

A-B Tech?

96% of students surveyed

are satisfied with the

quality of the College’s

programs and services.

95% of business and

industry clients are

satisfied with A-B Tech

services and students.

How well do our

students perform?

89% of A-B Tech

students taking licensure

and certification exami-

nations in 2010-11

passed, including areas

such as Basic Law

Enforcement Training,

Medical Assisting, Dental

Hygiene, Nursing and

Emergency Medical

Science.

A-B Tech students who

transfer to UNC institu-

tions perform better than

the native UNC students.

97.1% of our students

held a 2.0 GPA or above

after two semesters

at a UNC institution

compared to 87.4% of

the native UNC students.

How does A-B Tech

maintain accessibility?

¾ Three sites in Buncombe

and Madison counties

¾ Saturday Classes

¾ Alternative formats,

including eight- and

four-week classes

¾ Online and hybrid classes

6

Col lege Prof i le

7

8

27,840Total Students (counts a student who takes both credit and non-credit classes only once)

11,395Credit Students

Males 44.7%

Females 55.3%

Full-Time 35.3%

Minorities 11.6%

Buncombe/Madison Resident 81.2%

Average Age 27.6

17,597Non-credit Students

Males 49.1%

Females 50.9%

Minorities 15.7%

Employed (full & part-time) 66.5%

Buncombe/Madison Resident 79.5%

Average Age 40.6

2010 – 2011

Total Full-Time Faculty/Staff

(Fall 2011) Number %

Senior Administrators 8 1.9%

Faculty 179 43.1%

Professional 97 23.4%

Clerical 60 14.5%

Technical/Paraprofessional 40 9.6%

Skilled Crafts 3 0.7%

Service/Maintenance 28 6.7%

Total 415 100.0%

Total Full & Part-Time Faculty

(Fall 2011) Number %

Curriculum 430 64.9%

Continuing Education 233 35.1%

Total 663 100.0%

Credentials - FT Faculty (Fall 2011) Number %

Doctorate 10 5.6%

Master’s 107 59.8%

Bachelor’s 42 23.5%

Less than Bachelor’s 20 11.2%

Total 179 100.0%

Total Employees (Fall 2011) Number %

Male 423 41.3%

Female 600 58.7%

Total 1,023 100.0%

Operating and Nonoperating Revenues

1 State Aid $ 24,074,551 38.75%

2 Other Revenues $ 54,375 0.09%

3 Sales and Services, net $ 6,644,655 10.69%

4 Student Tuition and Fees $ 3,215,406 5.17%

5 Investment Income $ 44,318 0.07%

6 Noncapital Gifts $ 377,256 0.61%

7 Noncapital Grants $ 15,462,392 24.88%

8 County Appropriations $ 8,147,768 13.11%

9 State Capital Aid $ 3,534,146 5.69%

10 County Capital Aid $ 312,915 0.50%

11 Capital Grants $ 265,472 0.43%

12 Capital Gifts $ 9,279 0.01%

Total $ 62,142,533 100.00%

Operating and Nonoperating Expenses

1 Instruction $ 26,283,721 41.39%

2 Academic Support $ 4,865,124 7.66%

3 Public Service $ 896 0.00%

4 Student Services $ 2,408,346 3.79%

5 Institutional Support $ 7,593,943 11.96%

6 Operations and Maintenance $ 7,358,896 11.59%

7 Student Financial Aid $ 9,023,571 14.21%

8 Auxiliary Enterprises $ 3,535,418 5.57%

9 Depreciation $ 2,304,439 3.63%

10 Other Expense $ 128,795 0.20%

Total $ 63,503,149 100.00%

9

Total Full-Time Faculty/Staff

(Fall 2011) Number %

Senior Administrators 8 1.9%

Faculty 179 43.1%

Professional 97 23.4%

Clerical 60 14.5%

Technical/Paraprofessional 40 9.6%

Skilled Crafts 3 0.7%

Service/Maintenance 28 6.7%

Total 415 100.0%

Total Full & Part-Time Faculty

(Fall 2011) Number %

Curriculum 430 64.9%

Continuing Education 233 35.1%

Total 663 100.0%

Credentials - FT Faculty (Fall 2011) Number %

Doctorate 10 5.6%

Master’s 107 59.8%

Bachelor’s 42 23.5%

Less than Bachelor’s 20 11.2%

Total 179 100.0%

Total Employees (Fall 2011) Number %

Male 423 41.3%

Female 600 58.7%

Total 1,023 100.0%

10

Fall Enrollment sets

record

A-B Tech opened the

2010 fall semester with

a record-breaking 7,736

students enrolled in classes.

Compared to the first day

of the fall 2009 semester,

enrollment was up 12

percent.

Coca-Cola Scholar at

A-B Tech

A-B Tech student Kelley

Canady was named a 2011

Coca-Cola Community

College Academic Team

Silver Scholar. A total of 150

community college students

nationwide are selected

from a pool of more than

1,600 applicants.

Job Fair attracts hundreds

from region

About 1,500 people

attended a job fair

sponsored by A-B Tech and

the office of U.S. Rep. Heath

Shuler at the College’s Enka

site. The Asheville Area

Chamber of Commerce,

JobLink and Advantage

West were also partners in

the project, which featured

55 local businesses looking

to fill 500 positions.

Industries included

education, construction,

health care, manufactur-

ing, hospitality, financial

services, janitorial and retail.

A-B Tech hosts state’s

second-largest dental

clinic

A-B Tech hosted the North

Carolina Dental Society’s

second-largest Missions of

Mercy (MOM) free dental

clinic, providing about

$400,000 worth of care to

nearly 900 people. Forty

dental chairs filled A-B

Tech’s gym, holding patients

in need of fillings, extrac-

tions and other services.

Volunteers included dentists,

hygienists, assistants, lab

technicians, students and

community members.

Highl ights

11

Graduate named “best

young chef in the

Americas”

Daniel Gorman, a 2007 A-B

Tech graduate and a sous

chef at Cherokee Town Club

in Atlanta, won the Hans

Bueschkens World Junior

Chefs Challenge semifinals

for the Americas, leading

the American Culinary

Federation to dub him the

“best young chef in the

Americas.” He will compete

in South Korea for the right

to be called the best young

chef in the world in May

2012.

Vet Med Tech students

acquire new clinical

space through

partnership

A-B Tech’s Veterinary

Medical Technology

students are benefiting

from a unique partner-

ship between Buncombe

County and the Asheville

Humane Society that allows

the students to train in a

clinic built especially for

them. The county’s animal

shelter was designed with

a classroom, lab space and

a surgical suite that allows

students to view surgery

through a window in the

classroom. The Asheville

Humane Society’s pet

adoption center sits adjacent

to the shelter.

Phi Theta Kappa

The A-B Tech Alpha Upsilon

Eta Chapter of the Phi

Theta Kappa Honor Society

fulfilled the requirements

of a Five Star Chapter. The

chapter also won 24 awards

at the Carolinas Region

Annual Hallmark Awards

Convention and awards at

the International Hallmark

Awards Convention in

Seattle.

12

Phi Beta Lambda

A-B Tech’s Future Business

Leaders of America chapter,

Phi Beta Lambda, won

awards during the fall

leadership development

conference, including a Gold

Star Award. The chapter

also received 45 awards

during the state leadership

conference in Charlotte,

including three first-place

wins and 19 chapter

awards.

Resource Center built by

A-B Tech students

The Asheville Police

Department cut the

ribbon Oct. 27 to open its

Oakley Resource Center, a

2,500-square-foot facility

constructed by A-B Tech

students, as a Construction

Management project.

Students from several

programs worked together

to build the Healthy Built

facility. Healthy Built

buildings have characteris-

tics such as high-efficiency

irrigation and plumbing

fixtures, high-efficiency

windows and insulation,

Energy Star appliances and

lighting, and non-toxic

finishes.

Culinary nationals

Continuing its tradition of

excellence, the A-B Tech

Hot Food Team won first

place and a gold medal

in the American Culinary

Federation’s Student Team

Southeast Regional Compe-

tition in Atlanta, followed

by a silver medal win at

national competition in

Dallas. Danny Schwalje

served as team captain while

each member prepared

a course. Members were

Jonathon Zetterholm

(appetizer), Stephen Hertz

(salad), Tracy Williams

(entrée), and Sidney Ann

Caton (dessert).

Highl ights

13

A-B Tech assumes Child

Care Center operations

The operation of the A-B

Tech Child Care Center

transitioned from Buncombe

County to the College

Jan. 1. The move will allow

the College to develop a

model child care site that

capitalizes on the existing

relationship between the

Center and the College’s

Early Childhood Education

program. The Center will

serve as a learning lab for

students in the two-year

degree program, as well

as short-term certificate

programs.

Natural Products Facility

A natural products manu-

facturing facility believed

to be the first of its kind in

the country opened with a

public reception and tour

Oct. 18 at the Enka site.

The facility is a division of

Blue Ridge Food Ventures,

an agribusiness incubator

and initiative of Advantage

West. The new facility will

generate jobs and help

establish Western North

Carolina as a leader in the

natural products industry

nationally, attracting new

natural products businesses

and supporting development

of export opportunities for

companies.

A-B Tech Student on

American Idol

A-B Tech student Caleb

Johnson made an

appearance on “American

Idol” Feb. 2, when his

audition in Austin, Texas,

earned him a golden ticket

to Hollywood. Standing

in front of Steven Tyler,

frontman and lead singer

for Aerosmith, singer/actress

Jennifer Lopez and Randy

Jackson, bassist, music

producer and long-time Idol

judge, Caleb sang “Rusty

Cage” by one of his favorite

bands, Soundgarden. Caleb

made it through several

rounds before he was cut.

14

Achieving the Dream at

A-B Tech

Signifying a commitment to

student success and insti-

tutional improvement, A-B

Tech joined Achieving the

Dream. The College will

identify new strategies to

improve student success,

close achievement gaps and

increase retention, per-

sistence, and completion

rates through Achieving the

Dream.

The initiative will help

A-B Tech broaden its

knowledge of programs and

policies that lead to student

success and systemati-

cally implement those best

practices. A-B Tech made

a two-year commitment to

focus its efforts on closing

performance gaps among

student sub-groups. The

College receives assistance

from experienced practitio-

ners in building a culture of

evidence campus-wide, using

data to identify problems,

setting priorities, and

measuring progress toward

increasing student success. 

New programs to meet

employers’ needs

The college added

several new programs to

its offerings, including

an associate degree in

healthcare business infor-

matics, a mobile develop-

ment diploma, a biogas

option in industrial systems

technology, and a geospatial

technology option as part of

surveying.

New In it iat ives

15

Minority Students’

Leadership Academy

A-B Tech’s Minority

Students’ Leadership

Academy hosted a Black

Business Expo at the

College’s Asheville campus.

Co-sponsored by the City

of Asheville, Minority

Business Program, Mountain

BizWorks, Asheville-Bun-

combe Institute of Parity

Achievement and the

Minority Enterprise Devel-

opment Week Committee,

the Expo featured more than

50 vendors in a variety of

industries. There were also

local service providers in

human resources, business

resources, government

agencies and educational

organizations.

A-B Tech was awarded a

$25,000 Minority Male

Mentoring Grant from the

North Carolina Community

College System to support

current or new programs

geared toward creating

success among minority

males.

The focus of the Academy

is to increase graduation

and retention rates among

minority males enrolled

in an institution of higher

learning. In addition to

providing a support system,

the Academy offers activities

in academic reinforcement,

public speaking, relationship

building, effective communi-

cation and employability.

Destination Exploration

expands summer offerings

A-B Tech offered a series

of classes and summer

camps for children, teens

and adults called Destina-

tion Exploration. Camps

in art, computers, drama

and culinary were open

to children ages 8 to 18.

Adults took workshops

in humanities, languages,

music, practical skills

and other subjects. A

Visiting Artist Summer

Series featured three-day

workshops on photography,

drama and art.

16

Primary care clinic for

employees and students

opens

A-B Tech, in conjunc-

tion with Eblen Charities

and Three Streams Family

Health Centers, opened

a primary care clinic for

College employees and

students on its Asheville

campus.

The clinic provides basic

health care services for a

15-minute visit, regardless

of insurance coverage. A-B

Tech Medical Assisting

students assist as a part of

their clinical internship.

Wireless network extends

throughout Asheville

campus

A-B Tech’s IST Team

extended the campus

wireless network throughout

the fall semester, giving

students in each building

Internet access.

Online classes available

through Moodle

A-B Tech has made all online

course materials available

via Moodle, replacing

an older online learning

management system.

Class prepares job seekers

for careers in electronic

medical records

Goodwill Industries of

Northwest North Carolina

and A-B Tech partnered

to offer a class to train

employees for one of today’s

fastest-growing career fields

and to help health care

providers meet a new federal

requirement that all health

care records be available

electronically.

Electronic Medical Records

students learn effective

management, documentation

and communication using

electronic health information

and participate in hands-on

training to navigate through

the various applications

found in electronic medical

records software systems.

New In it iat ives

17

Broadband Initiative

A-B Tech hosted a Statewide

Virtual Groundbreaking

ceremony with MCNC,

the private, not-for-profit

operator of the North

Carolina Research and

Education Network Aug.

12. The ceremony was

the kickoff of the second

round of the Golden LEAF

Rural Broadband Initiative

through the Broadband

Technology Opportunities

Program.

Institute for Climate

Education created

A-B Tech established an

institute designed to educate

citizens about climate-

related issues. The Institute

for Climate Education offers

classes, workshops, seminars

and other training for the

general public about climate

and climatology.

In addition to the National

Climatic Data Center, the

College works closely with

the Centers for Environmen-

tal and Climatic Interaction,

an organization building

an economic sector focused

on climate-related science

and services and assisting in

the coordination of related

community opportunities.

College initiates

emergency preparedness

plans

Emergency preparedness

planning and drills occurred

on A-B Tech’s Asheville

campus and at its Enka and

Madison sites with scenarios

ranging from a fire drill to

an intruder on campus, as

part of the college’s ongoing

efforts to ensure the safety

and well-being of everyone

on campus.

A Message f rom the Foundat ion

Dear Friends

and Supporters,

When traditional funding

sources for scholarships

are limited or unavailable,

the Asheville-Buncombe

Technical Community College

Foundation steps in to fill

that gap, providing A-B Tech

students with access to a

quality education. Many of

our students face enormous

challenges as they deal with the

emotional toll of supporting

themselves and their families

while they work toward a

college education to help

them have an opportunity for

a better future. Their stories

compel and inspire us to seek

resources that will help them

achieve their dreams.

Through individual and corporate

donations, the Foundation

provided scholarships to 208

students in FY2011. Addition-

ally, the Foundation provided

funds for faculty/staff professional

development, emergency funds

to help students experiencing

a crisis, and funds for program

support. These ongoing, generous

donations make it possible for the

Foundation to serve increasing

numbers of students and help

them reach their goals.

The role of the Foundation has

never been more important

or necessary than it is today.

Although we were able to help

over 200 students attend A-B

Tech, almost 900 students applied

to the Foundation for financial

assistance. The need is great.

By raising significant funds to

supplement diminishing state

resources, the Foundation strives

to help as many students as

possible access educational oppor-

tunities at A-B Tech.

In the words of one of our schol-

arship recipients, “I am so appre-

ciative that there are people who

care about the future of others.”

Donations to the Foundation

have and will continue to open

doors and improve lives for local

students. Your generous contri-

butions ensure that A-B Tech is

here today and tomorrow to serve

our students and community.

The Foundation Board appreci-

ates the support of all who have

touched our students’ lives.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Lary Schulhof

Foundation Board Chair

19

Recipient of the Shapiro-Green

Endowed Scholarship

Marshay Proctor-Bates is a 2011 graduate

of A-B Tech’s Associate in Arts program

and a non-traditional college student in

every sense. “I am a mother of two sets of

twins and a full-time student, who works a

part-time job, volunteers, and participates

in a number of extracurricular activities.

Nevertheless, I took the plunge and decided

to go back to college,” she said. It took

the support she received from the A-B

Tech Foundation and the Shapiro-Green

Endowed Scholarship to make it happen.

“It felt wonderful to be immersed in the

challenges of college life, despite the initial

financial strain and stress of keeping my

life balanced.”

Lavender Fund Scholarship Recipient

Marvin McCoy is a single parent of two

daughters and is working part time as a

Certified Nursing Assistant in a skilled

nursing facility. He graduated in 2011 with

an Emergency Medical Science degree and

is continuing at A-B Tech in the Associate

Degree Nursing program. “I want to

go on to a four-year college after this,

so I can work as a clinical instructor in

Mission Hospital’s Emergency Room for

the Paramedic program at A-B Tech,” he

said. “I feel well prepared because of the

training and education I have received from

the College, which would not have been

possible without the financial assistance

from the A-B Tech Foundation and

Lavender Fund.”

Schola rsh ip Rec ipient s

Marshay Proctor-Bates Marvin McCoy

20

Johnathan Gia rd inaMemor ia l Endowed Schola rsh ip

“There were three

reasons why my

wife Deborah

and I established the Johnathan Giardina

Memorial Endowed Schol-

arship.  The first was in

loving memory of our

son Johnathan, who was

a student and graduate of

the A-B Tech Emergency

Medical Science program. 

The second was because

the school, faculty, and

program advisors did so

much to help our son define

who he was and encouraged

him to attain the highest

level of education and certi-

fication possible.  The third

was because A-B Tech made

every effort to help our son,

and all students, ease the

financial burden of pursuing

an education. 

When our son was a student

we saw how he struggled

to make ends meet while

attending school. So, we

decided that a cash schol-

arship would be most

beneficial for the student

chosen.  Our goal is to

financially help students

who will be providing

services and contributing

to the community upon

graduation. 

Endowing this scholarship

has allowed my wife and I

the opportunity to support

the college that had such

a profound positive effect

on our son’s life. It helps

us turn a great tragedy in

our lives into something

positive. It allows us the

opportunity to help those

who share the same goals

and values as our son,

Johnathan.”

– Nick Giardina

21

Foundat ion Financ ia l s

Distributions for Scholarships $ 197,819

Distributions for Program Support $ 164,556

Operating Expenses $ 116,448

Grant Disbursements $ 268,607

Total Expenses $ 747,430

Contributions $ 483,931

Grants $ 274,273

Investment Income $ 924,509

Total Revenue & Support $ 1,682,713

Net Assets June 30, 2011 $ 7,677,370

The FutureGiving to the A-B Tech Foundation is an Investment in our Community, our People, for Today…for Tomorrow

Be a scholarship donor

Assist students with books

Provide funding for emergencies

Upgrade technology to meet or exceed industry standards

Provide faculty and staff development

Enhance support services such as childcare, disability testing

Fund innovation and entrepreneurial projects

Update facilities

Develop new facilities

Support Service-Learning

Fund community programs

Money/Cash

Stocks or Marketable Securities

Gifts In Honor or Memory of a Family Member or Friend

Life Insurance Policies

Bequests and Estate Wills

Trust Agreements

Retirement Fund Beneficiary

Real Estate

Join A-B Tech as we work together to make our community a better place to live and work.

Every gift is appreciated and acknowledged.

Please contact Sana Efird, Executive Director of College Advancement,

at sefird@abtech.edu or (828) 254-1921 Extension 176,

or donate online at abtech.edu/donate.

Suppor t Your Communit y

Giv ing i s a persona l choice

On Nov. 8,

Buncombe

County voters

passed a referendum to increase

the local sales tax by

one-quarter of a cent to

fund construction and

renovation projects at A-B

Tech that will be used to

train students for jobs of

the future.

The 17-year tax is

expected to generate

$129 million for the

College. One of the first

buildings to be constructed

is an allied health and

workforce development

building.

Other projects include

construction of a

Buncombe County Public

Service Training Facility,

renovations of the Elm and

Rhododendron buildings,

upgrades and energy-

efficient windows at the

Enka site, parking lots

and sidewalks, renovation

of the Coman Student

Activity Center and the

purchase and renovation

of a building located at 93

Victoria Road for adminis-

trative offices.

The Future

Artist’s concept of Allied Health And Workforce Development Building. Not actual design.

To follow our progress, visit abtech.edu/future-building.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

abtech.edu | 828-254-1921

Locally Committed • Regionally Dynamic • World-Class Focused

A-B Tech inspires, nurtures and empowers students and the community toward a better quality of life through progressive

teaching, bold innovation and supportive collaboration.

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate degrees, diplomas and certifi-cates. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College.