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.
If you’re new to Awake58, welcome! Emily Thomas here. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up for the Awake 58 newsletter here. You can also find last week’s edition on our website.
The General Assembly passed a mini budget last week… Updates on the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) testing periods… High-quality arts at Cape Fear Community College… Meet the new state director of student life for the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS)… Plus, how to save money with the new State Health Plan…
Last week, the General Assembly passed a mini budget, which included $64 million for enrollment growth for the NCCCS. The mini budget also includes $95 million recurring for K-12 enrollment increases and $463 million toward private school vouchers through the Opportunity Scholarships program for this fiscal year.
The bill is now with the governor. He has 10 days from Sept. 11 to sign the bill, veto it, or let it pass into law without his signature.
You can read more about the mini budget here.
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Education announced additional details regarding the FAFSA beta testing period last week. “High schools, community-based organizations (CBOs), institutions of higher education, and state entities can submit the interest form to participate in subsequent stages of the testing period,” a press release said.
The beta testing program was designed to identify and resolve system errors prior to the 2025-26 FAFSA opening to all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1.
Beta 2 will launch mid-October, Beta 3 in early November, and Beta 4 is expected to launch in mid-November.
Here’s a link to the interest form.
And remember, you can reduce your State Health Plan premium by $60, to a $25 subscriber-only premium, by completing the tobacco attestation. Open enrollment for the new State Health Plan begins Sept. 30.
You can find more in our EdNC reads below.
Until next week,
Emily Thomas
Director of Postsecondary Attainment – EdNC.org
EdNC reads
General Assembly passes mini budget with funds for vouchers, K-12 and community college enrollment
The mini budget includes $64 million for enrollment growth and $12.7 million in receipts for the community college system.
During the State Board of Community College’s August meeting, system staff said that without the funding, some colleges are facing large budget deficits for this fiscal year.
At the time, NCCCS leaders expressed concern that enrollment funding likely would not be passed until November — based on the language in the General Assembly’s adjournment resolution.
If the funds were not passed until November, colleges would likely not have enough time to make decisions that account for having that enrollment increase.
“The timing of the budget deal is fortunate for the colleges,” Moore said on Tuesday. “With it likely to pass in September, the colleges will be able to plan for the spring semester knowing they have additional money coming in.”
Read the full article here.
The Wilson Center’s mission to bring communities to the theater
Accessing high quality arts may seem like a fantasy to some, and finding a career in the arts may seem like an even bigger dream, but a program through the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) seeks to turn those dreams into reality.
Hello Arts! is a grant program that provides access to shows and performances to nonprofits benefiting underserved populations while providing training and employment opportunities for CFCC students.
You can find Laura’s article on our website.
State student life director seeks to connect students to resources
Meet Tiffany Skouby, NCCCS’s new state student life director. The position is not new to the system, but its title has changed.
Skouby has served in the position since May and is working to bolster student life initiatives, programs, and services at each of the state’s 58 community colleges.
In this role, Skouby oversees student life programs across the state, handles student grievances, and advises the N.C. Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association (NC4CSGA).
Part of her work so far has centered around reintroducing the Student Life Advisory Board (SLAB), which previously became defunct in 2019. Skouby said SLAB works to provide accessible resources, best practices, and development opportunities to students and professionals while advocating for funding, programing, and services that improve campus life for students.
You can read more about Skouby’s role and career here.
Around NC
Tesla trainer tour | Southeastern Community College will host Cutaway Creations on Sept. 19 during its ConsuLab Tesla trainer tour. During the tour stop, “automotive instructors and industry partners from across southeastern North Carolina will get hands-on experience with EV-powered vehicle training equipment,” according to the college’s press release.
Home 2 grant program | Cape Fear Community College completed the Pathway Home 2 grant program in partnership with Leading Into New Communities, with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, according to a recent news article. The program provides support and job training to those transitioning out of prison or jail, hoping to reduce recidivism and increase employment.
Jobs in Edgecombe County | According to recent news, “Natron Energy, an international industrial battery manufacturer, plans to bring more than 1,000 jobs and an investment of $1.4 billion to Edgecombe County.” Natron will partner with Edgecombe Community College to start programs to educate the workforce in the county.
New grant | Johnston Community College received a $150,000 ITAC planning grant by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to expand its job training programs in HVAC and advanced manufacturing.
Competition to create awareness about food insecurity | Alamance Community College and 14 colleges and universities in the state are “competing to create awareness about food insecurity and to collect the most food for those in need,” according to this news release.
Partnerships | Fayetteville Technical Community College and Brunswick Community College recently signed a partnership agreement to increase opportunities for students pursuing a degree in funeral service education. Mitchell Community College and Appalachian State University recently signed a partnership agreement with the university’s Aspire Appalachian program.
Cemetery restoration | Isothermal Community College, the Land of Sky Regional Council, local volunteers, and Youth Works volunteers are partnering in the restoration of a historic African American cemetery. “The New Hope Community Cemetery Restoration and Remembrance Project is an initiative focused on restoring and preserving the historic New Hope Community Cemetery owned by the Historic St. John A.M.E. Zion Church in Rutherfordton,” according to a college press release.
Call for submissions | The North Carolina Community College Journal of Teaching Innovation (NCCCJTI) is calling for article submissions. Articles for the statewide journal focus on research and practice across the state. Click here to view submission requirements. The deadline to submit is Dec. 13.
Higher ed related events and webinars:
- FAFSA webinars | The Hunt Institute is hosting a webinar examining the impacts of delayed FAFSA on students and institutions. You can register for the Oct. 10 webinar here. The College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) will host a virtual coffee break on Oct. 9 focusing on Residency Determination Service (RDS) and mixed-status families.
- NCWorks Partnership Conference | Registration is open for the 37th annual NCWorks conference, scheduled for Oct. 9-11 in Greensboro. The conference brings together workforce development professionals from across North Carolina representing various sectors. Register online at www.train.ncworks.gov. If you do not have a TRAIN account, click on “Create an Account,” or contact the NCWorks Training Center at [email protected] for assistance.
- NCCCS Conference | Registration for the North Carolina Community College System Conference is now open. The conference is scheduled for Oct. 13-15 at the Raleigh Convention Center. Register by Sept. 24 to save $50. Participant registration can be found here. Click here for sponsor and exhibitor registration.
- Dallas Herring lecture | You can now register for this year’s Dallas Herring Lecture, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 19. The lecture features Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, chancellor of the Austin Community College District, as the keynote speaker. You can find more details here.
- Adult Learning Conference | The Adult Learning Conference hosted by the NCCCS will take place Nov. 21-22 in Raleigh. Click here to register, see the agenda, and submit proposals.
Other higher education reads
Why Higher Education Still Matters in Western North Carolina
Dr. Ben Coulter, chancellor of Western Governors University (WGU) North Carolina and southeast regional director for WGU, recently wrote about the importance of higher education in rural areas.
Since we lack the breadth of employment opportunities found in more populated regions of the state, Western North Carolina communities are especially vulnerable and consequentially impacted when major employers either shut down or relocate. We’ve seen too many of these recently, including the closure of the Pactiv Evergreen paper mill in Canton (1,000 jobs lost), HNI plant in Hickory (200 jobs), Mitchell Gold-Bob Williams factory in Taylorsville (400 jobs), Medline Industries factory in Lincolnton (220 jobs), and more.
Employees affected by these closures need timely reskilling to land well-paying jobs to support their families, and I applaud our local community colleges that were quick to step forward and help. For example, Haywood Community College responded almost immediately to the paper mill closure, offering scholarships and vocational programs in carpentry, HVAC, plumbing, truck driving and other in-demand professions. Other schools like Blue Ridge Community College and A-B Tech have NCWorks Career Centers that help match employer needs with local talent.
It’s clear that having just a high school diploma or GED severely limits your career pathways. According to MyFutureNC, North Carolina needs two million residents with a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030 to keep up with employer demands. Right now, we’re around 391,000 short of that goal.
You can read Coulter’s full write-up here.
You can also read EdNC’s coverage of the paper mill closure in Haywood County on our website.
