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This week’s edition is by Analisa Archer, senior director of policy at EdNC.
As Boost prepares to launch at seven more community colleges, take a look at outcomes from year one… Meet AdvanceNC, a collaborative rethinking how to serve advanced manufacturing employers and jobseekers… Community colleges can apply for a new RFP inviting research proposals on K-12 topics… Plus, Jeff Cox shares parting advice ahead of retirement as N.C. Community College System president…
Good morning and welcome to Awake58 — Analisa here.
Today, I want to update you on Boost, North Carolina’s replication of CUNY ASAP that is wrapping up its first year and preparing to scale to seven additional community colleges in August — reaching a total of 15 colleges across the state.
During recent remarks to the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, Nicole Ditillo, Boost director for the N.C. Community College System, said the biggest challenge in meeting the state’s attainment goal is not access, but completion.
Enrollment across the state’s 58 community colleges has rebounded above pre-pandemic levels, but only 45% of first-time curriculum students that are not dually enrolled ultimately graduate, transfer, or are still enrolled by their fourth academic year.
“Learners of all ages, traditional age and adult, are stopping out of postsecondary pathways for reasons that are often unrelated to academic ability,” she said.
Boost offers a solution: Students in the program receive a variety of wraparound supports, including intensive advising and financial benefits, to help increase on-time graduation. Boost is also the first replication of CUNY ASAP tied directly to workforce needs — eligible students must be enrolled in a program that aligns with Propel NC.
Now, as the first year of Boost at eight community colleges comes to a close, early results are promising. Boost students, on average, attempted more credit hours and completed more credit hours compared to similar students not enrolled in the program.
As seven additional colleges prepare to launch the program, additional philanthropic support is already rolling in — the NCCCS recently announced $6 million in two new investments to further expand the program.
The long-term vision, Ditillo said, is to scale the program to all 58 community colleges — something that would require state investment, as the current $35.6 million grant from Arnold Ventures is set to conclude in 2030.
Kelly McManus, executive vice president of education at Arnold Ventures, told council members that North Carolina is a proof of concept to see if a replication of CUNY ASAP can be scaled and sustained statewide.
“We see North Carolina as the proving ground. We’re very excited for you all to demonstrate what is possible,” she said.
Thank you for reading.
Until next time,
Analisa Archer
Senior Director of Policy, EdNC.org
EdNC reads
Ahead of Boost expansion to 7 more NC community colleges, leaders reflect on impact from first year
As Boost concludes its first year of implementation at eight community colleges — with seven more set to implement the program this fall — leaders recently reflected on early outcomes and what lies ahead for year two.
What is AdvanceNC? Meet the collaboration rethinking how to serve advanced manufacturing employers and jobseekers
First launched in 2023, AdvanceNC is now working to design and deploy 13 micro-pathways that will standardize training across community colleges, helping students earn credentials and start working more quickly.
NC Collaboratory invites research proposals from institutions of higher education
The NC Collaboratory released an at least $1 million RFP inviting research proposals from institutions of higher education in North Carolina — including community colleges — to study high-priority topics in K-12 education affecting students, teachers, and communities throughout the state.
The dream of a Latino textile cooperative in western North Carolina
This article, originally published by Enlace Latino NC, takes a look inside an effort to train the Latino community in textiles and create the first textile cooperative run by Latino workers in the region.
Perspective | NC Community College System President Jeff Cox shares parting advice
Ahead of his retirement on June 30, these remarks were the last time Cox formally addressed the State Board of Community Colleges as system president. Following these remarks, Cox was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the state’s highest civilian honor.
Around NC
Federal policy roundup | The Trump administration’s proposed overhaul of accreditation is moving forward after an advisory committee reach consensus on changes. “While the Department of Education has cast efforts to overhaul accreditation as much-needed reforms, critics sharply disagree,” writes Inside Higher Ed. Separately, the American Association of Community Colleges filed comments on proposed regulations that will establish a new earnings test. Read more here.
New aviation center expands opportunity in eastern NC | The Senator Jim Perry Aviation Center for Excellence at Lenoir Community College will train students in fields such as aircraft maintenance and avionics.
Turning the Triad into the next air capital | Roughly 100 Piedmont Triad leaders, including representatives from Guilford Tech, visited Wichita, Kansas, to understand how the city earned the title of “Air Capital of the World.”
A big moment for biotech | In recent years, more than $230 million has been invested statewide in biomanufacturing workforce training. “North Carolina is building upon its industry-led approach to training by expanding the scope and scale of its community college infrastructure,” writes the NC Biotechnology Center.
Investing in the water workforce | This podcast episode from the Institute of Emerging Issues focuses on the challenge of rebuilding the water sector’s talent pipeline, featuring Carteret Community College.
The Hunt Institute receives $2.2 million grant to advance postsecondary pathways for justice-impacted and rural learners | The grant will support a two-year initiative to strengthen state and regional leadership capacity, foster cross-sector collaboration, and advance bipartisan policy solutions.
New brief on NC student parents | The Hunt Institute released an issue brief on student parents in North Carolina, including a look at the challenges they face and the current landscape of supports.
Forsyth Tech calls on local leaders to support economic mobility efforts | President Janet Spriggs urged local business, government, and education leaders to commit to one thing in the next 30 days that supports the college’s economic mobility goals.
Road to Hire’s CEO Dr. Monique Perry-Graves delivers commencement address at Johnston Community College | At the 31:00 minute mark, Dr. Perry-Graves shares three lessons: confidence is seasonal; relationships matter because community is sustained through people; and the importance of curiosity and continuous learning.
myFutureNC’s Cecilia Holden encourages graduates to lead, persevere, and pay it forward | During her graduation address at Nash Community College, Holden challenged graduates to use their education to uplift others and create opportunities in their communities.
Roanoke-Chowan commencement speaker urges graduates to ‘hold the door open’ | In his commencement speech, Andre Lassiter, who EdNC wrote a profile about in 2022, encouraged students to recognize the support systems that helped them succeed and to carry that spirit forward.
‘A table for every dream’ | Sampson Community College’s Small Business Center recently held an event focused on offering advice to small business owners and entrepreneurs while also creating opportunities to share ideas and insights.
Other higher education reads
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