How data tools and a ‘human touch’ helped enroll Boost students at Johnston Community College

One of the enrollment challenges JCC faced, according to Boost Director Tanisha Payne, was simply “getting students to bite.” While the CRM automates communication to students through text messages, emails, and online messages in the “JagConnect” student portal, Payne’s sense is that many students need a chance to speak with an actual person, like herself, about their eligibility for the program and its benefits in order for them to take the next step and apply.

Once leaders evaluated funding opportunities, they had to find time — and, for some, literal internet bandwidth — to apply. Many organizations needed access to quick, flexible funding. For example, schools could not reopen without access to portable toilets and handwashing stations, which cost money. One district received an estimate for $214,245 for seven days of rental — an amount that could wipe out most organizations’ fund balances. FEMA ended up arranging for and covering the costs of the rental.

Both the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina’s Emergency and Disaster Response Fund and the U.S. Department of Education’s Project SERV provided accessible and streamlined applications that demonstrated an understanding of the pressures leaders face when navigating a disaster.

A new report from The Hunt Institute found bipartisan consensus on Americans’ core educational priorities and values nationwide. The Across the Aisle 2026 Nationwide Education Survey — produced in partnership with Burson Insights, Data & Intelligence — compiled survey data from 1,100 national likely voters and reflections captured in ethnographic journals from 15 likely voters and 10 public school educators.

The survey found that likely voters are aligned in their primary educational priorities, with nine-in-ten agreeing on the importance of three key issues: hiring quality teachers, teaching real-world skills for the future workforce, and addressing students not reading at grade level.

From the Belk Center’s AJ Jaeger: “In the Belk Center’s work with adult learners across North Carolina, we’ve developed a framework grounded in what we call the ‘5 Ps’ — public messaging, partnerships, processes, pathways, and proximity. These five areas consistently show up as powerful forces shaping the student experience. We think of them as threads, woven together to create a strong support system for adults returning to college and working toward completion. And while each one matters, I’ve come to believe that proximity may be the most relevant.

Why? Because proximity is about more than just time and physical location. It’s about connection, access and, more importantly, being seen and supported.”

Local priorities | “Health care, construction trades, and child career education are among the top priorities local elected officials recently shared they would like to see Central Carolina Community College focus on next year,” writes Jessie Pounds, the college’s communication coordinator.

Sponsors needed for summer meals | The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is seeking sponsors to serve summer meals in 2026. According to a press release, there is a particular need for sponsors “in rural areas, Indian Tribal Territories and areas with a concentration of migrant farm workers, where access to summer meal sites or transportation has been an issue.” You can find out more about sponsoring here.

Free tuition | Chatham County expanded eligibility to help residents attend college tuition and fee-free. Adults who graduated from high school two years ago or more are encouraged to apply for the new Central Carolina Promise Plus scholarship program. You can read more about the program and eligibility here.

Adult learners | A Q&A with Mitchell Community College President Tim Brewer highlights the college’s approach to supporting adult learners and its focus on business and industry partnerships in Iredell County. “We have to think about enrollment strategies that recognize where the student population is going, and we have to ensure our culture shifts along with those priorities,” Brewer said in the interview. 

Outer space | Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College is one of 20 schools and colleges in the United States and Canada that will be sending a science experiment into outer space as part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program. “The experiment, which examines how lubricating oils respond to microgravity, will be tested at the International Space Station (ISS),” a recent college press release says. Three physics students, led by Diesel and Heavy Equipment Technology student Curtis Epley, developed the experiment.

Student recognitions | Three Wake Technical Community College students are among 77 students from nine countries named as University Innovation Fellows. According to a recent college press release, Elle Ruiz, Mannal Amjad, and Sehyun Park completed six weeks of online training and have developed four “Innovation Marathon” sessions that will take place over two days designed to help their peers become more aware of resources available on campus. 

Funding | Bladen Community College received a $1 million gift from Cape Fear Valley Healthcare (CFVH) to expand allied health programs and strengthen healthcare workforce development and student support services throughout the region. “In addition to the financial contribution, CFVH is providing instructional space at Bladen County Hospital, which will place students in real-world clinical environments, offering hands-on training that prepares graduates to enter the workforce with confidence,” a news article said.

Events | Join myFutureNC on Thursday for one of eight virtual 2026 State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina Regional broadcasts. Register today to add the event directly to your calendar and be ready to join virtually on Feb. 12, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. At each virtual event, participants will dig into new statewide and county-level insights and address next steps for strengthening local talent development in the year ahead.