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.
EdNC’s new podcast about Hurricane Helene first responders… State Health Plan Board voted this week on benefit changes… The House’s budget includes salary increases for state employees… Gov. Stein requested $891 million more in Hurricane Helene aid… An update on the national budget for education and an order stopping the Trump administration from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education… A look at Fort Bragg’s apprenticeship program… Mary Shuping named executive director of NCSEAA… Plus, save the dates for upcoming events…
Hi all — Emily Thomas with Awake58.
We’re kicking off this week’s newsletter with words from my colleague, Caroline Parker, who recently created a podcast that features the real voices of those who were the first to respond during and after Hurricane Helene.
Hi there! My name is Caroline Parker, and I am the director of rural storytelling for EdNC. A little over a week after Helene hit western North Carolina, I began driving in that direction. Heading to Lake Lure, I was overwhelmed by how many trees had been chainsawed and removed from the road.
It wasn’t the fact that they had fallen due to the storm, it was the magnitude of how many had already been cut. This is intense physical work, and there was so much of it. I knew it was individuals that grabbed their chainsaws and deployed crews from all over the state that cleared the path for so many. And then approaching the lake, there is an Ingles’ parking lot. Police cars, bucket trucks, and emergency personnel were camped out — working around the clock to clean up.
This was my first day covering the aftermath of Helene, and all I could see was people being extraordinary and serving their communities. For the last six months, I have been interviewing students and alumni of various community colleges, who in the face of our state’s biggest natural disaster — ran towards it willingly to help.
This includes our electrical lineworkers, EMS professionals, firefighters, truck drivers, and so many more. It is one thing to write about the storm, it is another to listen to the voices of the people that lived through it and continue to help. The perspectives and accents, and real feelings and stories all were recorded, and put together in this series “Running Towards Disaster.”
Every single person I interviewed wanted to help, and thanks to our community college system, had the training to do just that, and in essential ways. I believe education is a public good, and good for the public. And these stories personify that for me.
Ever been curious about what it’s like to answer a 911 call or “fly on the wire” or climb up a telephone pole? Each episode features a different occupation or class that was instrumental in serving their region in the aftermath of a devastating storm. Have a cup of coffee for me and listen to at least one episode. These folks are what make our state, and our community colleges, so incredible. Thank you to them and thank you for listening.
Echoing Caroline, these individuals make our state incredible, and we are better because of them.
After your coffee and episode listen, be sure to scroll down and check out EdNC reads. We have quite a few, including updates to the State Health Plan, information about the House’s budget that recently passed, Gov. Josh Stein’s request for more Hurricane Helene aid, and Fort Bragg’s apprenticeship program.
Until next week,
Emily Thomas
Director of Postsecondary Attainment — EdNC.org
EdNC reads
Running Towards Disaster
EdNC’s new podcast series from Caroline Parker centers on first-person perspectives of those who lived through and helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Find all of the episodes here.
State Health Plan Board of Trustees votes on benefit changes for state employees
One of the major changes is to the names of the plans. What was previously referred to as the 70/30 plan will be called the Standard PPO Plan, while the 80/20 plan will now be Plus PPO Plan. The other major changes are to deductibles, particularly on the standard plan. When it comes to monthly premiums, under the current proposal, costs would go up $5 for the lowest-paid state employees on the standard plan and $20 on the plus plan. However, premiums won’t be finalized until the board votes in August.
House budget calls for master’s pay and raises, with higher increases for beginning teachers
The House budget allocates a total of just over $1.7 billion to the NCCCS in both years of the biennium. That number is up from $1.5 billion in the 2023 budget, but is slightly lower than the $1.8 billion the Senate budget proposed. It includes an across-the-board state employee salary increase of 2.5% in fiscal year 2025-26, which applies to most community college faculty and personnel. That would bring the minimum salary for nine-month, full-time community college faculty to $44,198, according to the budget, with higher salaries depending on qualification.
The budget’s bill text also includes a section on Propel NC that, while not allocating money, gives the State Board of Community Colleges permission to revise its funding formula and allocate funds under that revised formula beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year. It says the board “may increase tuition rates to accommodate any revisions to the funding formula.”
Gov. Stein requests $891 million more in Hurricane Helene aid, including relief for school districts and community colleges
“Federal disaster funding also continues to trickle into the state,” Stein said in the letter, “although nothing close to the additional $19 billion I requested in February.” The governor said he expects the burden to rebuild western North Carolina “to increasingly fall on state and local organizations.”
Nearly 8,000 complete apprenticeships at Fort Bragg
For nearly 35 years, Fort Bragg soldiers have been earning industry-recognized credentials through North Carolina’s registered apprenticeship program, ApprenticeshipNC. Since becoming a Registered Apprenticeship sponsor in the early 1990s, Fort Bragg has had nearly 8,000 service members complete a registered apprenticeship program across 114 occupations. Some of those occupations include aircraft electrical mechanics, cooks, homeland security specialists, bricklayers, human resource specialists, and guidance counselors. Over 580 apprentices are currently enrolled in Fort Bragg’s apprenticeship program.
Court ruling provides glimpse into the impact of dismantling the U.S. Department of Education
A federal district court judge has issued a preliminary injunction that bars the reduction in force (RIF) announced by the U.S. Department of Education, bars implementation of President Donald Trump’s Executive Order closing the department, and bars a transfer of the management of federal student loans and special education functions out of the department.
The order finds that the department impacts the entire education continuum.
Amid concerns, Secretary McMahon scheduled to testify about Trump’s budget
Amid concerns about cuts to federal mental health grants and delays in information to districts about federal funding, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testified before a U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday, May 21, about President Donald Trump’s budget proposal, which would cut education funding by 15%.
You can watch McMahon’s testimony on the committee’s YouTube page.
Around NC
Student stories | Wayne Community College recently celebrated 18 apprentices who completed programs through Apprenticeship Wayne.
A recent news story highlighted Richmond Community College Mechatronics Engineering Technology student Constantine Amoroso, who was recently hired by RH McRae Electrical in Rockingham. Amoroso’s first assignment included flying to Arkansas City, Kansas, for an electrical installation.
Campus news | Central Carolina Community College recently received a donated fire engine from Dunn Emergency Services. “The fire engine will be utilized to teach and certify firefighters, including use for the CCCC Fire Academy,” according to a college press release.
College of the Albemarle recently broke ground on a new health sciences building. The center will provide the college with more classrooms, labs and simulation center, allowing the college to train emergency services professionals.
Workforce development | The North Carolina Community College System recently said it supports the expansion of Prolec GE Waukesha in Wayne County, a $140 million investment that will bring 330 new jobs to the region and strengthen the state’s manufacturing sector. From a system release: “As Prolec GE looks to hire welders, assembly workers, engineers, and technicians, Wayne Community College and others across the system stand ready to provide hands-on training, tailored programs, and rapid upskilling to prepare students for these high-demand roles.”
Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt visited Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute in Caldwell County on Friday as part of her Future-Ready Community College Tour. During the visit, Hunt toured the Electrical Lineworker facility, where she met with students and educators. “Caldwell Community College’s Electrical Lineworker Institute is teaching students critical skills. Many of the lineworkers who helped get Western North Carolina power back on learned their trade here, at CCC&TI,” Hunt said. “We need to support our community colleges, so they can continue to teach these important skills and prepare North Carolinians for future careers.”
Hiring announcements | Mary Shuping was recently named executive director for the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). Shuping previously served as the director of governmental and external affairs for NCSEAA and has been serving as the interim executive director, following the departure of Andrea Poole earlier this year. NCSEAA administers the state’s primary need-based scholarships for North Carolina, manages the state’s forgivable loan programs, and operates the state’s K-12 scholarship programs.
Upcoming events | The Latine Education Summit is scheduled for Oct. 5-17 in Greensboro. Early Bird tickets are on sale now through June 1. Additional details and information about registering can be found here.
Save the date! The 11th annual Dallas Herring Lecture will be held Nov. 18, 2025. Stay tuned for more details.
Other higher education reads
Sign up for Awake58, our newsletter on all things community college.
