Report on the July Meeting of the State Board of Community Colleges

The State Board of Community Colleges convened in July to address strategic initiatives, pilot programs, and funding allocations. The proceedings underscored a commitment to advancing North Carolina’s educational landscape in alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Board Composition and Leadership

The Board confirmed its leadership and welcomed new members to guide its mission.

• Reappointments: John Kane, Geoffrey Lang, and Paula Benson.
• New Members: Stacy Griffin, Dr. David Lowry, Dr. Dale McInnis, Scott Ottman, Terry Yeargan, and Bannock Scott (Student Government Association).
• Leadership Elections: Tom Looney and John Kane were re-elected as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
• Association Leadership Transition: Dr. Amanda Lee of Bladen Community College will assume the presidency of the North Carolina Association of Community College Presidents, succeeding David Heatherly.

Strategic Pilot Programs Advancing SDGs 4, 8, and 10

The Board approved funding for several pilot programs designed to enhance educational access, workforce readiness, and economic opportunity, directly contributing to key SDG targets.

H3: Enhancing Technical Education and Transfer Pathways (SDG 4, SDG 8)

1. Career and College Promise (CCP) Expansion: An allocation of $25,000 was approved to support a pilot expanding CCP access for 9th and 10th-grade students in Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways. This initiative promotes SDG 4 (Target 4.4) by equipping youth with relevant skills for employment and decent jobs. Funds will address barriers such as textbook and transportation costs, advancing SDG 10 by improving access for students in high-need areas.
2. AAS Transfer Initiative: The Board allocated $25,000 to streamline transfer processes for students with Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees. Recognizing that 20% of community college transfers to UNC institutions originate from these programs, this action supports SDG 4 (Target 4.3) by ensuring equitable access to tertiary education and creating clearer pathways to advanced credentials and improved employment outcomes under SDG 8.

H3: Fostering Economic Growth and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 8, SDG 10, SDG 11)

1. Accelerate and Innovate McDowell: A $21,200 allocation will fund a pilot at McDowell Technical Community College to promote entrepreneurship and support small businesses in rural communities, particularly those impacted by Hurricane Helene. This program directly addresses SDG 8 (Target 8.3) by fostering small enterprise development and SDG 11 by building resilient local economies.
2. Regional Online Adult High School: A significant investment of $225,000 was approved for a regional online adult high school consortium among Halifax, Martin, and Roanoke-Chowan Community Colleges, all located in economically distressed Tier 1 counties. This initiative targets SDG 4 (Target 4.6) by increasing adult literacy and numeracy and SDG 10 (Target 10.2) by empowering individuals in underserved regions. The flexible online format removes barriers related to work, childcare, and transportation, promoting inclusive educational opportunities.

H3: Strengthening the Healthcare Workforce (SDG 3, SDG 4)

An extension was approved for the use of High-Cost Health Care Workforce funds, originally part of a $35 million appropriation. This allows colleges to overcome implementation delays and continue developing programs in high-demand healthcare fields. This action is critical for achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by building a robust healthcare talent pipeline and SDG 4 by providing quality vocational training.

Updates on Adult Literacy and Integrated Training (SDG 4)

The Board reviewed significant progress in adult education, a cornerstone of achieving SDG 4 (Target 4.6), which aims to ensure all youth and a substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy.

• Increased Enrollment and Success: The number of adult learners served statewide rose from 45,000 to 65,000 in 2024-25, with students exceeding the state’s measurable skill gains target.
• Funding Reallocation: $4.7 million in unspent federal Title II funds were reallocated to support adult education and literacy activities, ensuring program continuity.
• Integrated Education and Training (IET) Project: An additional $400,000 was approved for four community colleges (Alamance, Blue Ridge, Pitt, and Randolph) to continue the IET Project. This model, which combines adult education with workforce training, exemplifies an integrated approach to achieving both SDG 4 and SDG 8 by linking literacy directly to employment skills.

Rethinking Competitive Grant Strategy (SDG 17)

The Board is adapting its grant strategy to build a more resilient and diversified funding base, in line with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). After meeting a $10 million goal in federal grant applications, the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) is shifting its approach due to changes in federal programs.

• New Goal: Apply for at least $15 million in competitive grants and secure a minimum of 50% of the funds sought.
• Diversified Funding Sources: The strategy will now incorporate a mix of federal, state, and private philanthropic grants to create braided funding models and ensure stability.

Performance, Innovation, and Modernization (SDG 4, SDG 9)

H3: 2025 Performance Measure Report

The Board reviewed the annual performance report, which assesses all 58 community colleges on seven key measures to ensure accountability and progress toward educational excellence, a core tenet of SDG 4. The measures include:

• Basic Skills Student Progress
• Student Success Rate in College-Level English Courses
• Student Success Rate in College-Level Math Courses
• First Year Progression
• Curriculum Student Completion
• Licensure and Certification Passing Rate
• College Transfer Performance

H3: Digital Credentialing Pilot Findings

The Board received findings from a $1 million digital credentialing pilot program, an initiative that supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by modernizing educational systems. Pilots at Cape Fear Community College (DigiCred) and Randolph Community College (Certree) successfully issued thousands of secure, portable digital transcripts and IDs. This innovation enhances student mobility and provides verifiable credentials for the modern workforce, contributing to SDG 4 (Target 4.4).

SDGs Addressed in the Article

• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article extensively covers initiatives within North Carolina’s community college system aimed at improving access to and the quality of education, including adult literacy, vocational training, and higher education pathways.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The focus on career and technical education (CTE), workforce development in high-demand fields like healthcare, and support for small business and entrepreneurship directly relates to promoting productive employment and economic growth.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article highlights the adoption of new technologies through digital credentialing pilot programs and the development of online learning platforms to modernize educational infrastructure and delivery.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The text describes numerous collaborations between community colleges, the state board, local education agencies, government entities, and private companies to achieve educational and economic goals.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.
     
     Explanation: The article details multiple programs designed to improve access to tertiary and vocational education. This includes the “online adult high school initiative” for those with work and childcare barriers, the pilot program expanding Career and College Promise for 9th and 10th graders, and the initiative to “streamline the transfer process for students pursuing associate of applied science degrees.”
   • Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
     
     Explanation: The article discusses the expansion of CTE pathways, the continuation of the “Integrated Education and Training Project” which “couples adult education and literacy activities with workforce preparation and training,” and the support for programs in “high-demand healthcare fields” to provide students with job-relevant skills. The concept of “stackable credentials” also supports this target.
   • Target 4.6: By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy.
     
     Explanation: The section “Updates on adult literacy” directly addresses this target. It states that “65,000 adult learners statewide were served through adult education and literacy programs” and that the Board approved the reallocation of “$4.7 million… for adult education and literacy activities.”

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.
     
     Explanation: The “Accelerate and Innovate McDowell” initiative, a partnership between the North Carolina Small Business Center and McDowell Technical Community College, is explicitly designed “to promote small businesses and entrepreneurship in rural communities.” The Board approved $21,200 for this pilot program.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet.
     
     Explanation: The article describes a “$1 million… digital credential pilot program” involving apps like DigiCred and Certree. These initiatives aim to modernize educational infrastructure by allowing students to “securely store and share their transcripts and student IDs using a mobile wallet,” thereby increasing access to and use of digital technology in education.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.
     
     Explanation: The article is replete with examples of partnerships. This includes the “regional consortium among Halifax Community College, Martin Community College, and Roanoke-Chowan Community College” for an online school; partnerships with private tech companies like Certree and the creators of DigiCred; and the overall competitive grant strategy which involves seeking funds from “Federal grants,” “state grants,” and “private grants and funding from philanthropic foundations.”

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • Number of adult learners served: The article explicitly states that “65,000 adult learners statewide were served through adult education and literacy programs in the state in 2024-25, which he said is an increase from 45,000.” This is a direct indicator of participation in adult education.
   • Measurable Skill Gains (MSG) rate: The article mentions that for adult literacy, “students exceeded the state’s measurable skill gains target by nearly six percentage points.” It is also used to assess the Integrated Education and Training Project, where four colleges “exceeded the Measurable Skill Gains rate… of 43.6%.” This directly measures student progress in literacy, numeracy, and career readiness.
   • Performance Measures for Community Colleges: The article lists seven performance measures used to assess colleges, including “Basic Skills Student Progress,” “Student Success Rate in College-Level English Courses,” “Student Success Rate in College-Level Math Courses,” “Curriculum Student Completion,” and “College Transfer Performance.” These serve as direct indicators of educational quality and student success.
   • College Transfer Rate: An indicator for transfer performance is provided: “dually enrolled students are driving the success rates for the College Transfer Performance measure, with 72% enrolling at a four-year university after completing a two-year degree program.”

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Funding allocated to entrepreneurship programs: The approval of “$21,200 for the pilot” program “Accelerate and Innovate McDowell” serves as a financial indicator of investment in promoting small businesses.
   • Licensure and Certification Passing Rate: Listed as one of the seven performance measures for community colleges, this indicator directly measures the effectiveness of vocational training in preparing students for employment in licensed professions.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Adoption rate of digital technologies: The article provides specific data for the DigiCred app pilot: “85% of the Cape Fear Community College students, 86% of the New Hanover County Schools students, and 91% of Pender County Schools students downloaded the app.” This measures the uptake of new digital infrastructure.
   • Volume of digital transactions: The pilot program’s success is quantified by the number of credentials issued: “Over 2,500 transcripts and 2,150 student IDs were issued.” This indicates the usage level of the new digital system.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Amount of grant funding sought: The article mentions a specific target for grant applications: “the goal is to apply for at least $15 million in grants and to secure at least 50% of the funds they apply for.” This is a clear indicator of efforts to secure partnership-based funding.
   • System Office vacancy rate: The article notes the “System Office vacancy rate has decreased to 5.74% — an improvement from a 20% vacancy rate in previous years.” This can be seen as an indicator of institutional capacity and stability, which is essential for managing and sustaining partnerships.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ednc.org