A note from us
Welcome to Awake58 — a weekly newsletter where you’ll find the latest updates on community college related news and events around the state. Plus, a look at what’s trending nationally in higher education.
If you’re new to Awake58, welcome! If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up for the Awake58 newsletter here. You can also find the latest edition on our website.
National education leaders work to refocus efforts to increase attainment… The Richmond Fed expands their survey to look at wraparound services… A new guide helps educators and policymakers adopt AI tools responsibly… The State Board of Community Colleges will meet this week… Previewing postsecondary bills that made the crossover deadline… A new issue from the North Carolina Community College Journal of Teaching Innovation is out… A look at the long-term impacts of a student support program at Ohio’s community colleges… And, we want to hear from you…
Hi all — Emily Thomas with this week’s Awake58.
When I worked on high school and college campuses, graduation was always my favorite event. Seeing students reach their goals are moments that I will never forget. And so, this week, a huge shoutout to our Awake58 readers who are in this work day in and day out. Your dedication and commitment to guiding students is seen and deeply appreciated.
In April, educational leaders convened in Washington D.C., for the Celebrating and Accelerating Attainment: 2025 & Beyond event. In a recent post, Patrick Methvin, director of postsecondary success at the Gates Foundation, reflected on the April convening, offering three themes that stood out to him and their importance in the national attainment story. Methvin writes about the idea that states are key to the work, explaining that translating innovation to impact requires scale and that scale happens first at the state level.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this, and learn what innovative practices are happening in your communities to increase educational attainment.
You can read more about the convening and Methvin’s reflections here. And ICYMI, here’s a recap from myFutureNC’s February event where they discussed North Carolina’s progress towards its 2030 attainment goal.
Last Thursday was the North Carolina General Assembly’s crossover deadline, the date when most bills must pass at least one chamber by in order to stay alive this session. Exceptions to that deadline include appropriations bills, along with laws addressing amendments to the state constitution, election law, and district lines.
Neither Propel NC bill — House Bill 490, Propel NC Funding and Tuition Surcharge, and House Bill 365, Workforce Education Act — passed one of the chambers ahead of the deadline. However, because the bills allocate funding to implement the new funding model at the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS), the bills can still be considered, or end up in the budget. Here’s a quick look at a few postsecondary-related bills that did make crossover:
- Senate Bill 558, Eliminating “DEI” in Public Higher Ed, was filed by Republicans on March 25 and passed the Senate on April 9. It must now be passed by the House. The bill says it is “an act to demonstrate the General Assembly’s intent that students, professors, administrators, and other employees of public institutions of higher education recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public institutions of higher education from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.” Among other things, the bill prohibits higher education institutions from “maintaining an office, division, or other unit… referred to as or named diversity, equity, and inclusion.”
- House Bill 378, Leon’s Law (Dual Enrollment Info Parents), would require community colleges to share education information and records with the parents of dually enrolled students. It passed the House on April 15.
- House Bill 389, Child Care Workforce Pilot Program, would require the NCCCS and the North Carolina Partnership for Children to establish a two-year child care academy pilot in 10 counties, along with Johnston and Wayne counties, some of the model’s early adopters. It passed the House April 9.
- House Bill 562, Com. Coll. Behav. Health Workforce Enhan. Act, passed the House last week. The bill aims to address workplace shortages in the mental health and substance abuse spaces by amending the definitions of professionals. In addition to existing qualification options, the bill would allow community college graduates with relevant experience to be considered for needed positions.
- Senate Bill 133, NCCCS Learning Management System, would allow NCCCS to solicit a Learning Management System (LMS) for all community colleges. Currently community colleges across the system can each select their own LMS. The bill passed the Senate in March.
Stay tuned for EdNC’s full analysis of bills that made crossover deadline. In the meantime, you can read our past coverage on community college bills to follow this session.
The State Board of Community Colleges will also meet this week. Board items include updates to the NCCCS’ strategic plan, a legislative report about the IDD (intellectual and developmental disabilities) workforce training program, a proposed waiver to adjust the eligibility criteria for CTE Career and College Promise (CCP) enrollment, and a legislative update. Here’s a link to the full agenda and meeting materials.
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, what do you want us to know about the work you’re seeing and doing across campus and in your communities? We always appreciate input when it comes to identifying stories and innovative practices. You can reply to this message or email me directly: [email protected].
Until next week,
Emily Thomas
Director of Postsecondary Attainment — EdNC.org
EdNC reads
Three focus areas for driving national attainment among adult learners
First, alignment matters.
“Whether it’s identifying thresholds for economic return, pushing for better transparency in program-level outcomes, or improving how cost and success data are shared, our work is increasingly coordinated to help students — and particularly students from low-income backgrounds and communities of color — access credentials that pay off in the workforce and in life,” Methvin said.
Richmond Fed to expand survey about wraparound services
There are anecdotal stories about how wraparound services — from child care and transportation, to mental health and academic and career counseling — are helping to keep community college students enrolled and on a path to completion. Now, the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond (Richmond Fed) wants to take a closer look at what wraparound services public two-year colleges provide, as well as the barriers that prevent them from adding additional services.
More media literacy is needed in the age of artificial intelligence, report says
The report, Guidance for the Use of AI in the K-12 Classroom, offers four pillars that educators can work from as they introduce AI to the classroom: Design cognitively demanding, AI-supported tasks; streamline teacher planning and reduce administrative burden; personalize student learning; and foster ethical and informed use of AI among students.
Around NC
New journal volume | The North Carolina Community College Journal of Teaching Innovation has a new issue out. According to the journal’s editorial team, “This issue showcases the creativity, research, and dedication of faculty across North Carolina’s 58 community colleges. From fresh perspectives on teaching practices to data-informed strategies for student success, these articles reflect the passion and innovation that define our system.”
Small businesses | The NCCCS recently announced that it will partner with Goldman Sachs to help launch 10,000 small businesses across North Carolina. The launch is part of Goldman Sachs’ $100 million national investment in rural communities.
State budget | NCCCS President Dr. Jeff Cox recently interviewed with ABC 11 about the system’s budget requests.
Workforce development | Gov. Josh Stein announced last week that PPG in Shelby will create 110 jobs. The company is investing $380 million to create a new manufacturing center in Cleveland County. Cleveland Community College is listed as a partner in this announcement.
Reentry programs | The Craven-Pamlico Reentry Council is featured in this Richmond Fed podcast about community colleges and reentry programs.
Student stories | Brunswick Community College students recently spotted a humpback whale during a routine bottlenose dolphin survey. According to this news story, the sighting is the first humpback whale BCC Dean Dr. Kim Jones has recorded in the Cape Fear River since April 2021.
Scholarships | Union Pines High School Student Alyssa Mabe signed the very first Grow Moore Teachers Pathway Scholarship last week. The scholarship is a “collaborative scholarship agreement between Sandhills Community College, Moore County Schools, and The University of North Carolina at Pembroke, created to address the teacher shortage and ensure a pipeline of highly qualified educators for Moore County.”
Transfer agreements | Fayetteville Technical Community College and East Carolina University recently signed a bilateral agreement. The agreement would guarantee qualified FTCC graduates admission to ECU’s Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology (BSIT) program.
Campus news | South Piedmont Community College’s Aseptic Training Facility is underway. The college recently celebrated the “topping out” of the facility, where a final steel beam was placed to symbolize the completion of the structural framework.
Other higher education reads
Sign up for Awake58, our newsletter on all things community college.
