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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.
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The Senate budget proposal includes raises for community college employees and more… Exploring sustainable agriculture at Central Carolina Community College… HBCU students develop solutions for N.C. cities using technology… A look at student stories from around the state… Self-care practices following Hurricane Helene… Project Kitty Hawk updates… Workforce training in the criminal justice system… Winner of Aspen prize for Community College Excellence named… Plus, ICYMI, a list of community college bills to follow during the 2025 legislative session…
Hi all — Emily Thomas with this week’s Awake58.
The North Carolina Senate released and passed its 2025-27 budget proposal last week. The proposed budget includes several items related to community colleges, including a 1.25% raise for most state employees, along with a $1,500 bonus in each year of the biennium. The Senate’s proposal would also increase state funds to the State Health Plan. The plan currently faces a large deficit. Last month, the State Health Plan Board of Trustees discussed raising pricing and changing benefits for plan members.
The budget also includes approximately $73 million over the biennium for Propel NC, the system’s new funding model. The budget would appropriate $36.5 million each year to increase funding for pathways related to health care, advanced manufacturing, trades and transportation, and information technology at the state’s 58 community colleges.
There are also several items in the budget to align postsecondary and high school education, including $3.75 million in 2025-26 for the Community College Seamless Skills Initiative, to “create a competency-based education (CBE) model that seamlessly connects high school and community college.”
The budget also calls for some community college reductions. The proposal says the community college system should “reduce funds to the institutional and academic support allotment by 9.9% and directs the SBCC to offset reductions through consolidation of certain administrative functions more centrally across the Community College System.”
You can read more about community college related items in the Senate’s proposed budget here.
In other news, Pathway Community Foundation is getting ready to host their third annual HBCU Smart Cities Pitch Competition. Over the past several months, students from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) across multiple states have teamed up to create change in three North Carolina cities. EdNC’s Derick Lee writes about the competition and how the teams are working on several topics, including fire safety and homelessness.
ICYMI, be sure to check out a list of community college bills we’re tracking during the 2025 legislative session. And thanks to those who reached out with other community college related bills.
Be sure to check out the AroundNC section and other higher education reads for more state and national stories.
Until next week,
Emily Thomas
Director of Postsecondary Attainment – EdNC.org
EdNC reads
Senate budget includes raises and funds for Propel NC, requires administrative cuts
“We’ve seen community colleges across our state become integral partners in supporting business growth and development, and we really want to continue building on those efforts and support high demand industries and fields,” Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, said on Monday. “This budget will appropriate $36.5 million (each year) to increase funding for pathways related to health care, engineering, advanced manufacturing, trades and transportation, and information technology at community colleges, through the Propel NC initiative.”
HBCU students use technology to develop solutions in three N.C. cities
Benedicta Nzekwe, a freshman at Philander Smith University, said that she transitioned from thinking of homelessness conceptually to being able to understand exactly where people are staying, how people move, and the numerous reasons that contribute to homelessness.
A key takeaway for Nonso Duaka, a junior at Grambling State University, was that “homelessness has a lot of nuances involved with it.” On the visit, he had the opportunity to see the environments where people are situated and learned how people from all walks of life may be impacted by homelessness.
Latino youth explore future in sustainable agriculture at Central Carolina Community College
About 40 students from Wake, Lee, Durham, and Sampson counties descended on the Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) farm in Pittsboro, North Carolina, on Saturday to learn about sustainable agriculture.
The event, titled “Our Green Heritage: Building a Legacy in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture,” continued with workshops on sustainable agriculture and the careers offered by this sector. The participating students are members of the organizations Juntos NC, Future Farmers of America, and Student Actions with Farmworkers (SAF).
Around NC
Perspective | Leslie Blaich with the NC Center for Resilience and Learning writes about self-care practices for educators and communities across western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. “Self-care extends beyond physical health and includes attending to emotional and mental needs and well-being. Educators can benefit from mindfulness practices, journaling, or regularly talking with a trusted colleague.”
Student stories | Richie Basile, a graduate of Wake Tech and now NC State, reflects on how the Career and College Promise (CCP) program helped him toward his dream of becoming a lawyer. At 19, Basile graduated from NC State in two semesters and is now working full time, applying to law schools, and contributing to his family’s household income.
Kevin Neff, graduate of Guilford Tech’s entertainment technologies concert, sound and lighting program, describes his journey from Winston-Salem policeman to working at Magic Kingdom during the end-of-day lighting, laser, and video show on Main Street U.S.A. “My mom came to visit in December, she asked if I ever get tired of this. I told her no, every night, the feeling you get from the crowd is amazing,” Neff said in a recent GTCC press release.
SkillsUSA | Community colleges across the state participated in this year’s SkilsUSA. The state competition was the largest showcase of career and technical education in North Carolina with around 3,000 students competing. Below are several community college stories.
Ten students in the Graphic Design Department at Alamance Community College competed at the SkillsUSA NC State Leadership & Skills Conference. Two students placed first and will go on to compete at the national conference in June.
Cleveland Community College took 44 students and participated in 27 competition categories. The college brought home 29 medals. According to a college press release, “the students participated in various contests, including Welding, Collision Repair, Cyber Security, Cosmetology, Barbering, Medical Math, Electronics Technology, and Fantasy Hair and Makeup. They placed in all but eight of the categories entered, highlighting the exceptional level of preparation and commitment shown by the team.”
Guilford Technical Community College students won eight first-place awards in the competition. According to the college’s press release, “GTCC students also claimed five second-place finishes while garnering 31 top five finishes across 12 areas of competition.”
Around campus | James Sprunt Community College announced the groundbreaking of a new Workforce Development Center. According to a news report, the center aims to expand hands-on training opportunities in high-demand fields such as electrical, plumbing, and HVAC.
Students enrolled in Wilkes Community College’s industrial engineering program are designing a prosthetic leg to help a baby goat walk normally again.
Project Kitty Hawk | Enrollment in 14 degree programs supported by Project Kitty Hawk grew to 1,128 students this spring. Project Kitty Hawk is a nonprofit affiliate of the UNC System, helping North Carolina’s public universities develop and launch online degree programs specifically for adult learners. Project Kitty Hawk focuses on 14 degree programs in high-demand fields and is currently available through three universities: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, and North Carolina Central University.
Other higher education reads
