For institutions that embrace teamwork, these challenges are laden with opportunity. Never before have community, junior and technical colleges been better positioned to emerge as the leading sector of higher education. It is up to us, as presidents, to advance this leadership role through our advocacy of open door access, innovations in teaching and learning, application of new instructional and administrative technologies, proactive approaches to accountability, involvement in work force and welfare reform, and increased focus on resource development and fund-raising.
For this reason, we are fortunate to have SACJTC as our ready-made team, as an effective resource for addressing these complex issues from a regional perspective. SACJTC provides the opportunity for us to develop cooperative ventures, to see where we stand in relation to other institutions, to share success strategies, and to draw on one another for ideas and solutions.
For example, the impending changes in work force development were a central topic of our winter board meeting. While each institution needs to define its own approach to work force development, we all gained a solid working knowledge of this issue and its potential impact on our colleges and our systems.
Other valuable SACJTC information resources include our newsletter and occasional paper. Keeping pace with technology, SACJTC will soon add a home page on the World Wide Web to provide our members with electronic networking opportunities.
Our annual meeting offers yet another forum for discussion of educational issues as well as for professional and personal growth. Last year's meeting in Atlanta linked the Olympics to our mission and purpose, which were recently redefined through a strategic planning process. Olympic long-jump champion Willie Banks inspired us all with his motivational presentation. This year's meeting in Nashville, under the direction of president-elect Barry Russell, promises to be equally informative.
Helping to lead our SACJTC team as new board members are Dr. Jim Hudgins, president of Midlands Technical College, Columbia, South Carolina; Dr. Julius Brown, president of Wallace Community College, Selma, Alabama; and Dr. Tommy Davis, president of East Mississippi Community College, Scooba, Mississippi.
I also want to commend Dr. Lex Walters, who has made a great contribution to SACJTC for many years as the editor of this newsletter, keeping our members well-informed with timely and useful articles. I would also like to thank Dr. Allen Edwards, who has graciously agreed to take on this responsibility.
On a personal note, I encourage all members to take an active role in SACJTC. Open to all community, junior, and technical colleges in 10 states, SACJTC offers a unique opportunity to interact and network with presidents who share many of the same regional challenges and opportunities. As a college president, I have found my involvement to be enlightening and beneficial-it's great to be part of a winning team!