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.
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North Carolina’s revenue forecast for 2025-26 and 2026-27 was recently released… A look at how Burke County is working to increase postsecondary attainment… myFutureNC to give update on statewide attainment on Thursday… The State Board of Community Colleges meets this week… Key takeaways from three years of the REACH Collaborative… Gov. Josh Stein and President Donald Trump both declared February as Career and Technical Education month… Nominee for Secretary of Education Linda McMahon addressed Senate committee at first confirmation hearing… Plus, a love story out of Haywood Community College…
Hi all — Emily Thomas and Hannah Vinueza McClellan with this week’s Awake58.
What does it look like when a county works together to create a culture of attainment? In Burke County, it looks like a cohort of partners coming together to address challenges and shift the community’s mindset on credential attainment.
And it’s working.
Both the percentage of high school graduates and those with postsecondary degrees are going up, while the percentage with some college and no degree is going down.
Leaders say whatever is working in Burke Country is due to partnerships among several organizations across the county, including Burke County Public Schools, Work in Burke, Burke Development Incorporated, and Western Piedmont Community College.
There’s a lot of information packed in this article about the group’s efforts — details about the history of the partnership, Burke County and the Great Recession, and practical ways the partners have worked together to implement solutions that are changing the lives of students and their families. Be sure to read how Burke County Public Schools reaches students before they drop out.
We’ll have more information about North Carolina’s progress toward its attainment goal after Thursday’s event, when myFutureNC will share an update and discuss the State of Educational Attainment. You can RSVP here to attend the event virtually.
In legislative updates, the Office of State Budget and Management’s (OSBM) General Fund Revenue Forecast, released last week, anticipates a $34.71 billion budget in Fiscal Year 2024-25 and a $34.89 billion budget in FY 2025-26, representing 3% and 0.5% increases in collections, respectively. For FY 2026-27, however, the forecast estimates a -2.4% shortfall.
During a year in which lawmakers are saying there may not be funding for raises due to remaining Hurricane Helene needs, such a forecast could further impact the number of education initiatives funded by the General Assembly this session.
In other news, the State Board of Community Colleges will meet this week on Thursday and Friday. On the docket are discussions about dual enrollment and early colleges, an update on accreditation, and information about systemwide grants. You can view the full agenda, a link to the livestream, and Board materials on the system’s website.
As always, we want to hear from you! Do you have a story idea or policy issue that you’d like to see us cover? You can reply directly to this email or send a message to [email protected].
Until next week,
Hannah and Emily
EdNC reads
How one county worked together to create a culture of attainment
The collaborative efforts helped students understand the importance of graduating from high school and either finding employment in Burke County, going to the community college, or attending a four-year institution and then choosing to come home to raise a family.
How much money does North Carolina have? Tax revenue, the lottery, and the rainy day fund
Here is the upshot: there is money this year, but it gets tighter next year and then the year after that there could be a deficit. Revenue exceeded the forecast for 2024-25, is expected to be flat for 2025-26, and then a decline is anticipated in 2026-27.
Key takeaways from three years of the REACH Collaborative
In 2021, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) joined institutions nationwide in the Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Higher Education (REACH) Collaborative launched by Lumina Foundation. REACH aimed to increase the number of Black, Hispanic and Latino, and Native American adult students with quality credentials and degrees by 2%. Two dozen North Carolina community colleges participated in REACH, funded by the Lumina Foundation and the John M. Belk Endowment.
ICYMI: From the mountains to the coast, this love story started at Haywood Community College
We all have our favorite love stories. For Valentine’s Day, each year, EdNC lifts up a love story that includes our 58 community colleges. Last year, when we published our story, we heard back from Superintendent Melanie Shaver in Hyde County. “My own love story started at Haywood Community College, where I met my husband, Nick,” said Shaver.
Around NC
McMahon confirmation hearing | The first confirmation hearing for President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, took place last Friday. McMahon’s opening remarks included discussion of the need for more career-focused education and postsecondary pathways.
CTE month | Gov. Josh Stein and Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt joined students and administrators at Wake Technical Community College last week to issue a proclamation designating February as Career and Technical Education month. “We intend to make North Carolina the #1 state for apprenticeships in the nation. Investing in career and technical education is key to creating an economy in North Carolina that works for everyone,” Stein said. “Alongside our community colleges and corporate partners, we can shape the workforce of the future right here in North Carolina.”
President Donald Trump also designated February as CTE month, writing in a Feb. 3 executive order: “This February, we celebrate our incredible workers who are making America bigger, better, and more beautiful than ever before. By offering more alternatives to higher education, we will train college-aged kids in relevant skills for the 21st century economy.”
NC colleges in national initiatives | Fifteen community colleges across the U.S. — including Durham Tech — are testing an innovative approach that could revolutionize how they serve their communities and measure success, according to a report by Diverse Education. From the article: “The Community Vibrancy Framework, developed by Achieving the Dream (ATD), moves beyond traditional metrics of student completion to create a more comprehensive model of institutional and community transformation.”
Education Design Lab recently announced the first cohort of its Reimagining Community College Design Challenge, a new initiative that envisions and plans for a new age of community colleges. Together with the Lab, five community colleges across the nation — including Forsyth Tech — will work to reorient their program offerings around “new majority learners” and the skills they need to succeed in the future workforce.
Child care funds | From EdNC’s report: “As federal funds propping up the child care industry ended last year, legislators pointed to the 2025 session as an opportunity to find a long-term solution that alleviates high prices for parents, labor shortages for businesses, and low compensation for child care teachers.”
New hurricane bill | The North Carolina House introduced a fourth Hurricane Helene bill last week that would appropriate $500 million to various relief causes and transfer $275 million from the state’s reserve to its Helene Fund. The bill, House Bill 47, must now go to the House rules committee.
FAFSA | ICYMI, this FAFSA 101 page from College for North Carolina (CFNC) guides parents and guardians step-by-step through the Federal Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process.
On Feb. 26 from 6 to 7 p.m., CFNC will provide information about financial awards packages. You can learn more about the webinar and register on CFNC’s website.
On Feb. 22, Robeson Community College will be giving away a $500 scholarship and a $500 laptop computer during its FAFSA Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be additional door prizes like $25 gift cards that will also be given away in hopes of attracting more people to attend and complete their FAFSA.
The Central Carolina Community College financial aid office will also host a FAFSA Day on Feb. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon at the CCCC Academic Assistance Center in Sanford. CCCC Financial Aid staff will assist families in completing the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. For more information, call 919-718-7229 or email [email protected].
Events | Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) is hosting a “Back to Work Bootcamp” program designed to assist individuals who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time or who have experienced job loss. The event will take place Feb. 24-26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the NCWorks Career Center. The program costs $70, though fee waivers may be available for eligible participants. Learn more on CFCC’s website.
Wayne Community College will honor Black History Month with several activities on Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature representatives from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), sororities and fraternities, Black-owned businesses, and community organizations.
The ApprenticeshipNC Conference is set for March 10-11 at the Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club in Durham. You can find the agenda and registration details online.
Fayetteville Technical Community College and the North Carolina Military Business Center will host a Federal Food Symposium April 1-2. More information about the event can be found here.
MerleFest, a music festival fundraiser for Wilkes Community College, is scheduled for April 24-27. You can find the full lineup and more information on MerleFest’s website.
Other higher education reads
