National two-year college consortium moves to University of Florida

January 28, 2003

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A nonprofit consortium of community and technical colleges from across the nation that networks to promote excellence in postsecondary, career and transfer education has moved its operations to the University of Florida’s College of Education.

The National Alliance of Community and Technical Colleges, which originated at Ohio State University in 1979 and transferred to North Carolina State University in 1996, is now located in the department of educational leadership, policy and foundations at UF.

Larry W. Tyree, a UF education professor and president emeritus of Santa Fe Community College, is the new executive director of the association. The alliance membership is limited to approximately 40 members and consists exclusively of presidents, vice presidents or deans of the member institutions. Doctoral student in Higher Education Administration Michael L. Droll is the new managing director for the alliance.

In addition to informal networking to share excellence in the community and technical college arena, “the alliance will present semi-annual conferences that bring the latest innovations in leadership, teaching and programs to foster a fresh, diverse, but unified community of college leaders dedicated to enhancing student-centered success at the member institutions,” Tyree said.

“The National Alliance takes special steps to welcome new members and fit them into our network because we truly believe in the gains that can be made through cooperation and institutional sharing,” said alliance President Jay Box, who also is president of Hazard Community College in Kentucky.

Tyree served as a community college chief executive officer for 26 years at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, the Dallas Community College District and the Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville. He also served as interim CEO of the Jefferson Community and Technical College District in Louisville, Ky.