The multiple factors leading to slowing total population growth across the U.S. will impact the future of higher education, UNC-Chapel Hill’s Dr. Jim Johnson told N.C. community college leaders at a convening on adult learners last week. Johnson is the...
What makes adult learners persist? Despite many barriers, adult learners primarily persist to increase their earning power or workplace advancement and for personal fulfillment, according to Dr. Matt Bergman, a University of Louisville professor of educational leadership and co-author of...
From fall 2012 to fall 2022, college student enrollment dropped by about 1.9 million students – almost 10%. College enrollment has been declining since 2010 – due to factors like falling birth rates and rising college tuition, among others. Such trends...
State leaders, education stakeholders, and representatives from 52 N.C. community colleges gathered in Greensboro last week for the first statewide convening on how to reengage adult learners. The event, hosted by the John M. Belk Endowment (JMBE) and EducationNC, focused on adult...
Since 2021, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research has gathered data, stories, and lessons learned from colleges participating in NC Reconnect – the initiative to re-engage and enroll adult learners in North Carolina community colleges. The Belk...
The Editor’s Notes
Last week, we hosted with the John M. Belk Endowment a convening on adult learners and the future of higher education.
52 of 58 community colleges were represented!
Whatever your interest in education, take a minute to read more about demographic changes facing our state as laid out by the amazing Jim Johnson. “If we’re going to maintain our superiority as the most attractive place to live and do business in this country, we’re going to have to be serious about talent development, recruitment, and retention,” he said.
NC Reconnect is the initiative to re-engage and enroll adult learners in North Carolina community colleges. Don’t miss the four research briefs released by our colleagues at the Belk Center on this initiative.
