Gov. Beverly Perdue has unveiled an ambitious plan today to plug the state's massive budget hole through a consolidation of state agencies.

As Rob Christensen reports here, Perdue proposes a hiring freeze while merging 14 state agencies into eight. As part of the move, 100 or more computer service centers across state government would  be shut down, and a private firm would be brought in to help run computer operations.

Perdue's plan makes no mention of the UNC system or any level of public education in North Carolina. It isn't clear whether her plan to freeze hiring would apply to universities and community colleges.

Stay tuned for details as we learn more.

The legislature will consider a bill this year that would greatly expand the availability of federal loans to students at community colleges.

As Ben Niolet reports in today's News & Observer, North Carolina is one of just four states that does not make federal loans available to most community college students.

About 55 percent of students have no access to federal loans, which offer lower interest rates than other financing plans. Just 21 of the state's 58 community colleges offer access to the loans.

 So is this extra financial aid necessary?

According to the chart you can open by clicking the attachment below, 15 credits at a state community college will run a North Carolinian $750 this year. That's $1,500 a year in tuition if you follow the traditional, 2-semester system. There will be other costs - fees, books, etc to factor in. But it still seems a good deal.

What do you think?

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Community colleges in North Carolina had an enrollment boom this fall.

College officials said this week that they're educating and training 20,000 more students this year than they did last year.

This sounds like a success story, but consider: the community college system is funded for 216,500 full-time students this year. It enrolled at least 236,500.

That's a 14 percent hike in demand for programs; All but one of the 58 colleges across the state grew this fall; Mayland Community College reports flat enrollment growth.

"Our colleges are being squeezed between unprecedented enrollment numbers and continued budget reductions and reversions," said Scott Ralls, the community college system's president. "We can only put so many seats in a classroom, and we can only add so many faculty with limited dollars.

Our colleges are forced to cut off enrollment in certain courses and programs, but we continue our mission of welcoming those North Carolinians seeking education and training, even if we can't immediately put them in the specific class or program they want."

Community colleges in North Carolina will once again accept illegal immigrants.

The board of the state's community college system decided so Friday, bringing to an end a two-year discussion that, in practice, won't immediately affect very many students.

Illegal immigrants have been barred from community colleges for the last 16 months. Before last year, when many campuses enrolled them regardless of their legal status, about 150 illegal immigrants enrolled.

Here are the details. 

President Obama today will unveil a $12 billion plan for the nation's community colleges.

The 10-year program, set to be announced this afternoon when Obama visits a community college in Michigan, will hope to get community college degrees to 5 million more students, double the current number.

 Check back this afternoon for details.

Illegal immigrants could be a source of much-needed revenue for community colleges if they were allowed to enroll and were charged out-of-state tuition, a consultant said today.

In a preliminary report to the state's community college board, consultant John B. Lee and Associates said admitting illegal immigrants as non-resident students would net more than $1,000 a year per student at most community colleges.

 Here's the story.

You have to hand it to Barack Obama for not weasling out when asked a question that obviously was going to plop him into the midst of North Carolina's roiling debate over illegal immigration.