The General Assembly successfully overrode the governor’s veto of the mini budget on Nov. 20, meaning that $64 million for enrollment growth and $12.7 million in receipts is on the way to community colleges across the state.

N.C. Community College System (NCCCS) President Dr. Jeff Cox said in a statement that the increased enrollment funding is “a crucial investment in the future of North Carolina.”

“This support ensures our 58 community colleges can continue preparing students for high-demand careers while driving economic growth in every corner of our state,” Cox said on Wednesday. “We appreciate the General Assembly’s recognition of the essential role community colleges play in transforming lives and building stronger communities. We look forward to working with state leaders to drive North Carolina’s continued success.”

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Ahead of the General Assembly’s votes, the State Board of Community Colleges voted on Friday, Nov. 15, to provide contingent approval of an allocation of $76 million in enrollment growth funds to colleges that experienced an enrollment increase during Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24.

Fifty-two of the state’s 58 colleges experienced enrollment growth last fiscal year, according to a system document.

Without the enrollment growth funding, some colleges were facing large budget deficits for this fiscal year, which impacts planning for the spring semester. Many of those deficits were in the millions of dollars.

Read more about the enrollment growth funding and allocations for each community college on EdNC’s website.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed a wide-ranging omnibus bill on Nov. 19 that transfers an additional $227 million to the state’s Hurricane Helene Fund, allocates $33.75 million in child care stabilization grants, and includes various regulatory changes that impact the power of several incoming Democratic elected officials.

In addition to transferring funds to the Hurricane Helene fund, the bill also appropriates $27 million to the Department of Agriculture for debris removal and technical assistance, and designates $125 million in highway funds for repairs and reconstruction in the counties impacted by Helene.

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The bill also does not allocate any new funding toward Helene relief for community colleges.

The legislation does amend previously awarded grants to two community colleges, Fayetteville Technical and Montgomery community colleges.

A previous $10 million grant to Fayetteville Tech was previously awarded for a regional fire center. Now, $3 million will go toward the center, and $7 million of that funding will go to a regional truck driving center instead.

A previous $1.5 million grant to Montgomery Community College for a dental hygienist program can now be used for capital improvements and equipment for dental and nursing programs at the college, per the bill.

The bill also transfers up to $1 million to the NCCCS “to conduct a digital credential pilot program with a digital credential provider.”

Finally, the bill also expands the Career and College Ready Graduate program, which requires the State Board of Community Colleges and State Board of Education to offer opportunities for college remediation for students prior to high school graduation.

The bill allows the remediation classes to also take place during the summer immediately preceding a student’s senior year.

You can read more about the bill in the full article.

“The need for us to lead with love is more profound today than it has ever been,” Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, chancellor of Austin Community College District, said at the 2024 Dallas Herring Lecture.

Known for being the “love president,” Lowery-Hart discussed strategies for community college leaders to implement love as a guiding principle, which entails intentional, courageous, and systemic leadership.

But what does that look like practically? For starters, it’s reimagining what leading with love means.

National community college leaders have delivered the Dallas Herring Lecture since 2015. Last month’s event marked the 10th lecture since its inception.

The lecture honors the late W. Dallas Herring — the “father” of the NCCCS — and is hosted by North Carolina State University’s College of Education and the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research (Belk Center).

Past keynote speakers were invited to attend the 10th anniversary.

Belk Center Executive Director Dr. AJ Jaeger recognized the past lecturers in the crowd by noting their collective accomplishments, including a Presidential Medal of Freedom, two White House Champions of Change, as well as an appointment to the National Council for the Humanities.

This year, more than 1,500 people registered to attend virtually and in person, joining from 36 states from Hawaii to Maine as well as three other countries. Twenty North Carolina community colleges hosted watch parties, and all 58 community colleges were represented during Tuesday’s event.

Read the full Dallas Herring Lecture recap on our website.

EdNC perspectives |

• Wake Technical Community College President Dr. Scott Ralls provided a response to this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture. During his response, Ralls encouraged leaders to not overlook the forgotten people — those “who embody the challenges and aspirations within our communities, but too often have been limited in their opportunities.”
• Piedmont Community College President Dr. Pamela Senegal also provided remarks following the 2024 Dallas Herring Lecture, highlighting how rural colleges can demonstrate an ethic of care by leaning into their rural college assets.
• Mayland Community College Vice President of Instruction and Chief Academic Officer Keegan Anderson shares his own reflections as he and his community recover from Hurricane Helene. Mayland Community College serves Avery, Mitchell, and Yancey counties.

Workforce development | The winners of the Governor’s NCWorks Awards of Distinction have been announced. “A youth internship program, two manufacturers, and five individual North Carolinians are being honored for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions related to workforce development,” the release said.

A global software company (21st Century Software Technologies) will invest $455k in Morehead City to relocate from Boston, Massachusetts. The company will also create 25 jobs in Carteret County. Carteret Community College is one of several agencies involved in the project.

Small Business Centers | The Hampton Roads Show featured Roanoke Chowan Community College’s Small Business Center.

Apprenticeships | National organization Early Years registered the first statewide Early Childhood Educator Apprenticeship Program in North Carolina on Oct. 31. According to a release from the NCCCS, the program “will provide an accessible training pathway to thousands of ECE providers and potential educators across the state. Apprentices who participate in Early Years’ Registered Apprenticeship will receive paid on-the-job learning under a mentor, supplemental education, and nationally recognized credentials.”

Hurricane Helene | Surry Community College and Halifax Community College adopted Caldwell Community College through the “adopt a college” program organized by the North Carolina Community College Association of Community College Presidents. The program is a statewide effort to support North Carolina community colleges affected by Helene.

Welding students and instructors at Isothermal Community College are also building stoves to help with relief efforts. One of the instructors took the first shipment of 15 stoves to Yancey County a few weeks ago. Students are working to build another 40, according to a release from the college.

Apprenticeship events | The Urban Institute, ApprenticeshipNC, and Apprenticeship Carolina are set to host a virtual event on Dec. 4 celebrating, reflecting, and discussing next steps for the Small and Medium Business Tech Apprenticeship Project. You can register for the event online.

During National Apprenticeship Week, Southeastern Community College also welcomed more than 230 high school juniors and seniors to campus for the first ever ACCESS Open House event. According to the college: “Industry partners engaged with students eager to learn about career options through apprenticeship in Columbus County, and students performed hands-on skills to showcase their talents to potential employers. Three students signed apprenticeship agreements in healthcare, while CCS and WCS signed apprenticeship agreements in teacher prep.”  

Mental health partnership | El Futuro, North Carolina’s leading provider of bilingual and culturally responsive mental health services, recently partnered with Forsyth Technical Community College to address the critical shortage of bilingual mental health professionals in the state. According to a press release, “El Futuro will provide culturally responsive training to prepare students for working with under-resourced Latino communities, with a focus on individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as those with opioid use disorder.” The initiative will provide scholarships for tuition, fees, and books, along with paid internship stipend and professional development.