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JMBE pledges $2 million to community colleges impacted by Helene

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 last week’s edition on our website.

The John M. Belk Endowment announced a $2 million gift to community colleges impacted by Hurricane Helene… A look at the General Assembly’s first hurricane relief bill… North Carolina students can apply for free to many state colleges Oct. 21-27… The State Board of Community Colleges meets this week…

Hannah Vinueza McClellan here, filling in for Emily Thomas as she attends the N.C. Community College System’s (NCCCS) annual conference, along with EdNC team members Chantal Brown and Alli Lindenberg.

The last week has been another one full of news updates.

Last Wednesday, the General Assembly unanimously passed a $273 million Hurricane Helene relief bill, which includes $250 million to the Department of Public Safety and Division of Emergency Management, $16 million to the state’s Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to replace lost compensation of school nutrition employees, and school calendar flexibility and compensation for public school districts and employees impacted by Helene closures.

The bill does not include funds for community colleges, but lawmakers emphasized it is only the first step of what will be a multi-year process of recovery for western North Carolina. Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bill into law on Thursday.

“Recovery for Western North Carolina will require unprecedented help from state and federal sources and this legislation is a strong first step,” Cooper said in a statement. “Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic damage but also showed the resiliency of North Carolina’s people and its communities and we must continue the bipartisan work to help them build back strong.”

You can read more about the bill — which also extends the governor’s state of emergency for Helene until March 1, 2025 — on our website.

The 14 community colleges impacted by Helene received good news on Friday — with the John M. Belk Endowment (JMBE) announcing a $2 million gift to support recovery efforts over the next few years.

“The Belk Endowment is honored to announce this wide ranging, multi-year investment in North Carolina community colleges,” said MC Belk Pilon, JMBE president and board chair. “It is our hope these funds provide system and campus leaders with a surge of resources as the recovery effort unfolds over the coming days, months, and years. Our community colleges have already demonstrated their incredible resilience, and our team is proud to stand beside them now, and always.”

You can read more about that gift in the EdNC reads section below, plus learn more about voting resources, hurricane recovery efforts, and the College Foundation of North Carolina’s (CFNC) Countdown to College initiative.

As always, thank you for your readership, support, and work across our state. Stay tuned for EdNC’s coverage of the NCCCS annual conference, the State Board of Community College’s meeting this week, and our continued on-the-ground reporting from western North Carolina.

Until next week,

Hannah Vinueza McClellan

Senior reporter, EdNC


EdNC reads

North Carolina Community College System, John M. Belk Endowment partner to provide $2 million in Hurricane Helene Relief

On Friday, the John M. Belk Endowment announced $2 million in funding to support the hurricane recovery efforts at the 14 community colleges in the original federal emergency declaration zone for Hurricane Helene. Assistance will include:

  • Nearly $300,000 in direct support: JMBE will disburse $280,000 in discretionary funding, offering $20,000 to each of the 14 impacted colleges to help meet urgent local needs. These funds will be made available to the colleges within the next two weeks.
  • More than $1.7 million in flexible support: Additional funds will support a variety of needs as identified by the system and colleges. This includes wrap-around services such as transportation, childcare, food assistance, and mental health support, as well as strategic consulting for emergency response. Over 2025 and 2026, flexible funding will be available for continued recovery and rebuilding efforts.

In a press release, NCCCS President Dr. Jeff Cox expressed his gratitude for the Endowment’s quick and generous response.

“The John M. Belk Endowment’s commitment serves as a vital lifeline for our colleges and sets a standard for public-private partnerships in these challenging times,” said Cox. “With many hands working tirelessly to address the immediate needs of organizations across western North Carolina, we are fortunate to have this partnership and funding in place. It ensures our students and staff receive swift, flexible support to maintain the delivery of quality education throughout the recovery period.”

Read more about the gift at EdNC.org.

2024 Voter Guide: The races that are most important to education

EdNC recently published our 2024 voting guide, which covers six races important to education: the presidential race, governor, lieutenant governor, superintendent of public instruction, attorney general, and treasurer.

In the guide, we outline each role, their responsibilities, and information about each candidate. The races are ordered according to how they appear on the ballot.

In-person early voting begins on Oct. 17. EdNC has also explained step-by-step how to verify your registration, ID requirements, and other important details on how to cast your vote in the article.

Check out the full guide on our website.

You can also check out voting resources for people impacted by Hurricane Helene in the article below.

Resources for North Carolina voters and counties impacted by Helene

Haywood Community College uses lessons learned from previous floods to help in Helene recovery

Check out Emily’s piece on how Haywood Community College is using lessons learned from previous natural disasters to better serve its community following Hurricane Helene. Here’s an excerpt:

For a mountain community, Haywood County has seen its share of flooding in the last 20 years. In 2021, Tropical Depression Fred ripped through the area, causing major flooding and killing multiple people. The county also experienced flooding from back-to-back hurricanes in 2004.

But the impacts from Hurricane Helene are far greater, and the damages stretch across western North Carolina.

As of Oct. 4, five fatalities have been reported in Haywood County as a result of Helene and numerous houses are lost or have severe damage. …

The first phase of the college’s disaster recovery was making sure college employees were safe, which wasn’t easy.

While the college had their emergency Wi-Fi system in place, the majority of the county was without any form of communication. It took days to confirm all employees were accounted for, and many incurred severe damage to their homes.

The college is now assessing student and employee needs.

Last week, the college set up a landing page on their website for employees and students that lists where to find supplies, food, water, showers, and clothing. Students can apply directly on the page for financial support and list their current needs.

Read the full article at EdNC.org.

North Carolina students can apply to many colleges for free Oct. 21-27

Spread the word: North Carolina students can submit college applications for free to many North Carolina colleges and universities next week, Oct. 21-27, during College Application Week. This is part of the College Foundation of North Carolina’s Countdown to College initiative, which launched in October.

From Oct. 21-27, participating colleges will waive application fees for applicants who apply through CFNC. In addition to the waived application fees, the CFNC initiative also highlights resources for North Carolina students and families to help plan, apply, and pay for college.

“Each year, the Countdown to College campaign helps tens of thousands of students as they prepare for college throughout their senior year,” said Andrea Poole, executive director of the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA). “While this is an important initiative, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene means that the college planning process will look different for many western North Carolina students. SEAA and its education partners are working diligently to provide additional resources and programs in the coming months for students impacted by the hurricane.”

You can read the full article, which includes a list of participating colleges, on our website.

Charlotte collaborative engages nonprofits ahead of FAFSA release

Queen City Collaborative is one of 15 myFutureNC local educational attainment collaboratives. The collaborative recently hosted a FAFSA summit for nonprofit partners at Central Piedmont Community College in partnership with the Equitable Foundation.

Approximately 80 attendees across over 20 organizations attended the gathering with the focus of increasing access to financial aid for students and families.

“We know that the FAFSA continues to pose issues and problems, but working with not-for-profits and nonprofits, again, the people doing the trench work, makes that process a little bit easier,” said Dr. Davida Haywood, vice president of student affairs and campus engagement at Johnson C. Smith University.

Read more about Queen City Collaborative’s work here.


Around NC

Helene perspective from CC instructor | Jess Lanning, who serves as an instructor and consultant for the Small Business Center at Mayland Community College, recently published an EdNC perspective about living in Mitchell County after Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina on Sept. 27. You can read the piece on our website.

Applying for relief grants ICYMI, EdNC published a guide for how nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and public agencies can apply for relief grants from Dogwood Health Trust.

State Board of Community Colleges meets this week The State Board of Community Colleges meets for its regular meetings this week Oct. 17-18. You can find the agenda for the committee meetings on Thursday and the full meeting on Friday here. The Board is slated to talk about Hurricane Helene and the system’s response, according to the agenda.

Students in trade | A StarNews article features Cape Fear Community College student Hailey Malpass discussing her decision to study computer integrated machining at the college — and work in the shop on the college’s campus. “Malpass is just one of the many students in Generation Z who have chosen to take the path to pursue a career in trades and technical skills,” the article says. “…Cape Fear Community College is working to not only educate students of the value of a career in trades, but also the parents so that they feel more comfortable sending their student into the workforce.”

More student stories | Wayne Community College recently published an article highlighting the story of a student who graduated from the college’s medical assisting program. “Medical Assisting at WCC is great. When you walk out of those doors, you will know how to do your job,” graduate Teara Horton said.

Cyber defense | Cleveland Community College was recently designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security. According to the college, “this designation signifies that CCC has met the rigorous requirements set by the two sponsoring agencies, has a robust cybersecurity-related curriculum, and is committed to graduating knowledgeable, skilled cybersecurity professionals.”

Cape Fear partnership | According to a press release from the college, Cape Fear Community College’s Upward Bound program “recently teamed up with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington’s (UNCW) Upward Bound Math and Science program for a special event focused on building self-confidence, fostering connections, and touring the UNCW campus. With over 100 students participating from four Upward Bound programs—including Fayetteville State University and James Sprunt Community College—the collaboration provided a valuable opportunity for students to engage and grow together.”

Investments in eastern NC | The Golden LEAF Board of Directors awarded $13 million to Wilson Community College for training equipment to support the location of Johnson & Johnson in Wilson County. Golden LEAF also awarded $500,000 to Washington County Schools to establish the Hyde, Tyrrell, Washington Career Tech Innovation Center at Washington County Early College High School.

Aspiring community college leaders summit | Beaufort County Community College recently hosted the Aspiring Leaders Summit in collaboration with UNC Wilmington’s 3C Collaborative. According to the Washington Daily News, the summit invites aspiring and current community college professionals to come together for two days of learning, networking, and professional development.

Higher ed related events and webinars:

  • Pinktober Day | Southeastern Community College is hosting a “Pinktober Celebration Day” on Oct. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m to honor and support breast cancer fighters and survivors. The event, which will take place in the B-Building, Room 128, on SCC’s campus, includes free mini facials, shampoos, and blowouts. To book an appointment or for more information, contact SCC at 910-642-7554.
  • HBCU Democracy Day | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Center of Excellence for Social Justice (CESJ) will host its inaugural HBCU Democracy Day on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Alumni-Foundation Event Center, 200 N. Benbow Road, Greensboro. The nonpartisan event will bring together scholars, journalists, and civil rights activists to discuss the role historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have played in shaping American democracy.
  • Dallas Herring lecture | You can now register for this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19. The lecture features Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, chancellor of the Austin Community College District, as the keynote speaker. You can find more details here.
  • Adult Learning Conference | The Adult Learning Conference hosted by the NCCCS will take place Nov. 21-22 in Raleigh. Click here to register, see the agenda, and submit proposals.

Other higher education reads

Hannah Vinueza McClellan

Hannah Vinueza McClellan is EducationNC’s senior reporter and covers education news and policy, and faith.