SANFORD - A total of 69 applications from 31 states have been received for the position of the next president of Central Carolina Community College.

President Matt Garrett, who has served in that position since August 2004, retires in September. Garrett announced his retirement in October to allow time for the board of trustees to search for his successor.

The board held a forum in January to receive input from the public on the qualities they want in the new president. A Presidential Search Committee was appointed by the board to assist in the search. The committee met March 31 and will take 10 days to evaluate the applications, choosing the semi-finalists on April 10. The committee will then obtain additional information on them and select four to six finalists by May 5.

"Once the finalists are submitted to the board of trustees, the committee's work will be concluded," said Dr. Donny Hunter, executive director of the N.C. Association of Community College Trustees and the board's consultant for the search. "The final selection of the new president will be made by the full board of trustees."

The trustees will interview the finalists in June and submit three names to the N.C. State Board of Community Colleges for approval at the state board's August meeting. The announcement of Central Carolina C.C's next president is tentatively scheduled for August.

The 18-member Presidential Search Committee includes representatives from the college's service area of Lee, Harnett and Chatham counties: trustees - Committee Chairman Bill Wilson, Clem Medley, Julian Philpott, and Frances Warner; Central Carolina C.C. administrators - Ken Hoyle and Bill Tyson; faculty - Lisa Key Brown, Robert Powell, Barbara Rusher, and Edwin Thomas; support staff - Linda Spivey; and community representatives - Bob Heuts, Dennis Wicker, Joe McDonald, Margaret Murchison, and Dr. Howard James.

When he retires, Garrett will have served 30 years in the North Carolina Community College System, 21 of them at CCCC. His retirement date of Sept. 1 is the date he started working at the college back in 1987. During his years at CCCC, he served as dean of students, psychology and sociology instructor, executive vice president/chief academic officer, and president.

In its 46-year history, CCCC has had only four presidents: Dr. William A. Martin, 1961-1969; Dr. Jeff "J.F." Hockaday, 1969-1983; Dr. Marvin R. Joyner, 1983-2004; and Dr. Matt Garrett, 2004-2008.