McCrory seeks to reward colleges for job placement

State funding to community colleges was cut by 1.6 percent in the $20.6 billion budget that McCrory signed two weeks ago. Still, he said the system is critical to economic development and job creation in North Carolina.

The governor called on public schools, community colleges and universities to do more to communicate and share resources, and he hinted at steering away from simple enrollment-based funding.

"What I want to do is set up a system where we reward you for giving those courses where people actually get jobs," he said. "The dilemma we have is that some of those courses are your most expensive courses, and our funding is based primarily on how many people you have in your seats."

He asked for feedback on how to expand mechanical training, biotechnology and health care programs that have high job placement rates.

The board meeting also included the announcement of more than $200,000 in scholarship funds donated to the N.C. Community Colleges Foundation from AT&T and Duke Energy in honor of the 50th anniversary of the community college system.