What happens when enrollment growth pushes community colleges to their physical limits?
A note from us
Welcome to Awake58 — a weekly newsletter with the latest updates on community college news and events. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up for the Awake58 newsletter here, and you can find last week’s edition on our website.
This week’s edition is by Sophia Luna, policy analyst at EdNC.
Enrollment is on the rise at community colleges, but many classrooms lack space to accommodate more students… Take a look at a new state-of-the-art career and technical education center in Robeson County… Vote in the inaugural Small Business Center Network Startup Showdown… Plus, register now for your virtual seat at the 2026 Dallas Herring Lecture…
Good morning from a warm North Carolina false fall. Welcome to Awake58 — Sophia here.
Enrollment at North Carolina’s community colleges has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with seven colleges logging full-time equivalent (FTE) student growth of more than 30% since the 2018-19 school year. But as enrollment grows, many community college campuses are running out of space to serve students.
This week, Dean Drescher unpacks what happens when enrollment momentum hits a “physical wall.”
Across the state, the combination of colleges’ expanded dual enrollment programs, consistent community engagement, and a growing demand for workforce credentials from students appears to have driven the enrollment surge.
James Sprunt Community College experienced the largest enrollment growth of all 58 colleges. Between 2018-19 and 2024-25, the college saw an 83% increase in the number of FTE students.
“It’s a positive challenge to have strong demand for our programs,” James Sprunt’s Vice President of Student Services Dr. Shakeena White told EdNC. “But sustainable growth requires investment in the people, facilities and resources necessary to maintain a high-quality educational experience.”
Read more about the challenge here.
I also want to send one more thank you to the community college staff and faculty who hosted me and my EdNC colleagues on five campuses last week. As a new school year gets underway, I’m grateful for the opportunity to hear about the work you all lead and meet some of the students you serve.
At Western Piedmont Community College, I saw what it looks like when college leadership makes student support part of their campus culture. And at McDowell Tech, where education is personal, it’s clear that the college and its instructors are, first and foremost, a community for its students.
Stay tuned for EdNC’s recaps of our back-to-school visits.
I’m excited to be back in your inbox soon.
Until then,
Sophia Luna
Policy Analyst, EdNC
EdNC reads
Around NC
Lowe’s Foundation launches Building Futures Skilled Trades Coalition | The nationwide coalition includes 75-plus members — including Blue Ridge Community College, Cape Fear Community College, and Central Piedmont Community College — and aims to train 1 million people for skilled trades careers by 2035.
Strengthening transfer pathways | The UNC System, N.C. Community College System, and N.C. Independent Colleges & Universities have released the first edition of a new semesterly update highlighting work to strengthen transfer pathways across the state. This edition includes updates on articulation agreements, Transfer Advisory Committee work, and more.
Cape Fear Community College opens new home for free drop-in childcare center | The facility was built in response to “overwhelming demand” and includes expanded infant care, flexible learning zones, and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor space.
Robeson Community College selected as one of 15 sites nationwide for hazmat training | The initiative is designed to strengthen emergency preparedness and response in communities across the country.
‘No college can develop a workforce alone’ | In a column to commemorate 65 years of Fayetteville Tech, Dr. Mark Sorrells describes the college’s work to build partnerships and create a workforce system that is more aligned and better connected.
Dr. Bill Starling to retire after 47 years at Sampson Community College | Forty years ago, Starling planted trees on campus. In the spring, he plans to retire after nearly a decade as president.
Translating student input into strategic action | This report from the Belk Center includes findings from a strategic planning survey for students and illustrates how three rural colleges used this input to shape priorities and goal setting.
Join NC’s inaugural Credit for Prior Learning Awareness Week | On Sept. 21-25, join events and trainings focused on efforts to connect students to credit they’ve already earned, equip faculty and staff with the tools to recognize it, and strengthen the partnerships that make it possible.
Register now for your virtual seat at the Dallas Herring Lecture | This year’s featured speaker is Dr. Vicki Karolewics, president of Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Alabama. Her lecture, titled “The Value Agenda: A Systems Approach to Student Success,” calls on institutions to redesign systems around the full student lifecycle, where every structure, every process, and every employee is aligned around helping students complete credentials of value and achieve long-term success. The lecture will take place virtually on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. ET. Register here.
Other higher education reads
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