We have updates on SB692 and other bills impacting community colleges. EdNC’s Rupen Fofaria discusses the amendments made to SB692, along with more information on HB601 and HB607.

SB692, a bill that seeks to overhaul community college governance in North Carolina, passed the Senate by a vote of 31-19 last week. It will now go before the House.

Several amendments were filed before SB692 passed the Senate. We’ve listed some of those below:

• Some of the powers the original version vested in the system president were rolled back.
• The first amendment makes the election of the community college president subject to approval of the General Assembly, though this provision is not retroactive and will not impact Dr. Jeff Cox’s appointment as the new system president.
• Provisions removed that would have given the system president authority to make a formal recommendation either approving or denying the local board’s choice for a local college president to the State Board of Community Colleges.
• The bill’s previous intent to give the system president increased budget authority, authority to dismiss a local president, and the opportunity to provide reports to the General Assembly without approval of the State Board was also removed.

You can read the full article here, which also includes updates on HB601 and HB607.

In the world of community colleges — whether you’re here in North Carolina or at a college in Virginia — workforce is the name of the game.

And for all of us in higher education, we are currently experiencing this phrase on a visceral level, even though we’ve been focused on workforce for a long time. Only now, the expectations for how we support workforce in our communities are increasing.

Given this new and more profound emphasis, it raises an important question. While we have been diligently developing our workforce, are we playing “the game” the right way?

Blue Ridge’s President Dr. Laura Leatherwood shares her thoughts on strategies to maximize workforce development efforts including a regional approach to solution-finding, relationship-building, involving industry experts, and more.

Read more here. 

In recent years, high-impact practices (HIPs) have been proven as a critical component of student retention, engagement, and persistence for students across all backgrounds. More specifically, these engaging and hands-on educational practices have been found to lead to success markers for transfer students — including higher GPA, greater semester-to-semester enrollment, and increased graduation rates.

In this research brief, Dr. Steve Turner explores the use of HIPs — specifically service-learning and study abroad participation — and how they shaped the experiences of Hispanic transfer students.

Click here to read more.

Author Simon Sinek writes that “our WHY is our purpose, cause or belief — the driving force behind everything we do.” Have you found your “why” in your workplace and community?

My why keeps me moving, proudly working in a field that grants me the opportunity to change lives. My why is to decrease poverty and reduce the prison recidivism rate in North Carolina and across the country.

Greg Singleton writes about his “why” and the work he does with justice-involved individuals.

It is imperative that we include the justice-involved population in our conversations about workforce and education — as valued residents, students, and employees that have paid back their debt to society.

Singleton goes on to share about his own journey as someone who was once justice-involved and how that has, in part,  fueled his “why” at the college and in the community.

Read Singleton’s story here. 

Sandhills Community College’s Board of Trustees will meet May 9 to elect and approve the new president of the college. View meeting information and finalists here.

The North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety have partnered in a collaborative pilot project to provide online instruction to students in youth development centers. Read the NCCCS press release here.

EdNC’s Liz Bell shares survey information from child care providers who say that without additional funding, child care costs will likely rise.

Guilford Technical Community College students captured 20 first-place awards and eight second-place awards in the SkillsUSA North Carolina state competition.

Dr. Greg Minton was named associate vice president of workforce development and community education at Wilkes Community College.

myFutureNC highlights four years of progress: “In 2019, 1,356,343 North Carolinians aged 25-44 held a postsecondary degree/credential (2016 Census data). Today, we are at 1,555,543 according to 2021 Census data. That’s 199,200 additional North Carolinians aged 25-44 with a postsecondary degree or industry-valued credential.” You can read more updates from myFutureNC here. 

Schools That Lead is recruiting their fourth cohort for Network Improvement. From the organization: “Our network builds the capacity of schools to get their students with challenges around attendance, behavior, and course performance back on track.” For more information, visit www.SchoolsThatLead.org. The early bird application is open.

Coastal BUDS third annual iCAN Swim Camp will take place on Brunswick Community College’s campus this summer. The camp helps children three and older with disabilities work toward their individual aquatic goals.

In case you missed it, a recap of the webinar series on postsecondary pathways from the Belk Center and Hunt Institute. Find more here. 

The Institute for Emerging Issues (IEI) continues its Talent First Tuesdays tomorrow. In this special virtual series, IEI is welcoming back each breakout session panel from the 2023 Emerging Issues Forum, Talent First Economics, to continue the important conversations that took place at the forum. Learn more here.