Editor’s note: This article is part of a series on the intersections of community colleges and child care. Other articles in the series are available here.
This is a republication of an article originally published by Family Forward NC.
These are the values that drive Sandhills Community College (SCC) in providing quality education and fostering an inclusive environment where students and employees can thrive. As North Carolina’s first comprehensive community college, SCC serves 11,439 learners and offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates across a wide range of fields. The college also provides workforce continuing education for direct career pathways, along with programs that support personal growth and community enrichment.
However, they are also home to 286 employees, and their senior director of workforce development and corporate partnerships, Taylor McCaskill, and Dave Daniels, their veterans services coordinator, believe that SCC is an excellent and supportive place to work. They both agree that SCC fosters a genuine family-friendly environment that encourages children to be on campus and embraces the college as a space for learning, hard work, and a shared commitment to creating better futures. This kind of environment helps ease any kind of concerns employees may have about whether their families are welcome, while still maintaining a professional setting where staff can succeed and make a difference.
“Sandhills is different. You don’t truly understand it until you’re here. You feel the support, the love, and the expectation to put your family first. It’s not just encouraged; it’s expected. That’s what sets Sandhills apart,” said McCaskill.
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One way SCC sets the tone for a family-inclusive environment is through its on-site partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a national nonprofit dedicated to providing children with a fun, safe environment where they can thrive and grow into their best selves. SCC proudly partnered with the organization to host a Boys & Girls Club location on campus, giving students, staff, and the surrounding community access to an affordable and educational after-school program for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
To ensure convenience and safety, transportation is provided from local schools, including Pinehurst, McDeeds Creek, Farm Life, and Carthage Elementary. Once on campus, children participate in activities, play with their peers, attend events, and use SCC facilities. They also receive a complimentary dinner and homework support, all for just $50 per child per year.
If a student or staff member is experiencing financial hardship and unable to cover the enrollment fee, McCaskill shares that the Sandhills Community College Foundation is always ready to step in and provide assistance when needed.
According to McCaskill, SCC has always fostered a culture of growth and a commitment to better supporting its community. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created a new sense of urgency to address barriers that were only intensified by the crisis. As an educational institution, SCC recognized the importance of responding in a way that ensured both students and staff had the resources they needed to return to campus. One of the key strategies in this effort was expanding access to quality, affordable child care for parents.
This is particularly significant given that the national average cost of child care in 2024 was $13,128 per child, according to the Annual Child Care Landscape Analysis by Child Care Aware® of America. In many parts of the country, child care expenses now surpass rent or mortgage payments. Within Moore County, where SCC is located, the Partnership for Children of Cumberland County shares that the average cost of child care can range from $5,547 to $14,710.
With North Carolina facing statewide child care shortages, the Boys & Girls Club stands out as a valuable resource, offering families essential access to care and support, and SCC is leading the charge to ensure their community’s needs are met.
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In addition to after-school child care, the Boys & Girls Club hosts free drop-in services between the hours of 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the week in order to meet the needs of those attending and instructing evening classes. In the summer months, a summer camp is offered on-site from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., where the children engage in a variety of fun activities at low cost all summer long with free meals.
Daniels, the veterans services coordinator, shared his appreciation for SCC’s culture of respect and care for its employees. He emphasized that the support he receives from Sandhills allows him to care for his fellow veterans, work hard, and be a dedicated parent because he knows the college is taking care of him, too.
McCaskill encourages other businesses to take a thoughtful approach to aligning their culture, values, and priorities with what their staff needs to thrive. As the challenges people face continue to grow, employers have a unique opportunity to be part of the solution by supporting their workforce in meaningful ways.
As she puts it, “Invest in your employees, their values, and their families, and they’re going to work harder for you. It’s a pretty simple concept.”
Example benefits that Sandhills offers:
- Paid sick and vacation leave (time depending on employment type).
- Paid parental leave is eight weeks for birthing parents and four weeks for non-birthing parents.
- Flexible work options and remote work.
- Leave donation program allowing employees to contribute accrued leave to coworkers in need.
- Lactation rooms in one building and private spaces in others, with ample break time.
- On-site Boys & Girls Club, a low-cost after-school care for employees, students, and the community.
- On-site summer camp at reduced cost .
- Medical, dental, vision, employee assistance program.
- Cover employees’ medical premium, dental, and vision.
- Access to campus events for employees and their families.
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