The new President of the Bermuda College said the College is the answer for those students struggling to pay fees abroad.

In a Press conference held yesterday at the Bermuda College to formally introduce the new College President, Dr. Charles Green, he said that the College is the ?obvious solution? for students struggling to afford the price tags of higher education.

Referring to a letter to the Editor in yesterday?s paper about a college student?s plight for financial assistance to fund an overseas degree, Dr. Green said: ?The reality of the situation is that there are only so many scholarships to go around and the cost of higher education overseas keeps climbing.

?Bermuda College is the obvious solution so, I am excited about getting us out there and getting our message heard ? that for literally a fraction of the cost, Bermuda College can help deliver those dreams.?

Dr. Green emphasised the importance of a strong recruitment effort for the College.

?We need to have the community seeing us as the focal point for any of their academic endeavours.?

Dr. Green, who is on a three-year contract, said he has been in office for 13 days and he and his wife are settling in to their new surroundings well.

He hails from Houston, Texas, and has served as Interim President of Olive-Harvey College in Chicago, Illinois since August, 2002.

Dr. Green has more than 30 years experience as an officer in the United States Army and as an education administrator in both the secondary and post-secondary school system, according to a Press release.

?Here, at the College, I have been meeting regularly with my executive team and I am eagerly looking forward to meeting the faculty when they return, so that we can start to implement some great new initiatives and plans for the College and its students, in its mission to set them on the path to success,? he said.

Dr. Green said that one of the new initiatives will be the renewed focus on technical education with an upgrade on the technical facilities.

?Although, I am not at liberty to go into too much detail at the time, I can and am pleased to say that I have already spoken with the executive of the National Training Board and am fully supportive of the concept and need to jointly provide quality technical education for those in the applied science and technological fields,? Dr. Green said.

Education Minister Terry Lister was on hand yesterday to introduce the new president.

?Dr. Green comes to us with expertise in technical education,? he said. ?I must commend the board for its selection of Dr. Green. He is an individual of impeccable academic and technical qualifications and will bring strong leadership, vision and a can-do attitude to this post.?

Mr. Lister said he was impressed with Dr. Green?s vision for the College.

Senator and chairman of the College board, Raymond Tannock was also at the Press conference yesterday to help welcome and introduce Dr. Green.

Mr. Tannock highlighted the College?s 30th anniversary this year and said he was happy to have Dr. Green on board.