Lance Martin
RRspin.com
24 April 2025

Halifax Community College has launched a new Better Skills, Better Jobs campaign to help more adults gain the training and skills they need to secure a better paying job and meet the needs of employers in the region. 

With the state’s new Next NC Scholarship, many adults have the opportunity to attend tuition-free.

“We are committed to making Halifax Community College a place where the local community can explore, discover, and achieve their goals through accessible, high-quality education,” said Dr. Patrena Benton Elliott, president of Halifax Community College. “Better Skills. Better Jobs reflects a mission to empower individuals with the knowledge and training needed to compete in today’s workforce. In just a short time, adult learners can gain valuable credentials, increase their economic stability, and take steps toward a brighter future for themselves and their communities.”

With Next NC, many adult learners can gain the skills they need for the jobs they want for free. Next NC helps North Carolinians from households making $80,000 or less pursue higher education by fully covering tuition and fees at any of the state’s community colleges.

Interested adults are encouraged to visit the college’s website to learn more and to sign up to connect directly with the college.

The Better Skills. Better Jobs initiative includes direct outreach to adults who previously earned some college credits, but left without a degree or certification; special community events and earned media promotions; targeted digital marketing and advertising, and customized materials designed to quickly help more adult learners reconnect and re-enroll.

The vast majority of higher-wage jobs today require more than a high school diploma, but less than half of North Carolinians between the ages 25 to 44 have the education and training needed to fill these jobs. 

Meanwhile, employers across the region are looking for the skilled talent needed to fill current jobs.

That is why Halifax Community College, the John M. Belk Endowment, myFutureNC, and several other state and local partners are working together to launch the special outreach campaign to attract even more adult learners back to college.

“We know that many in our state are looking for new challenges or a fresh start, and we believe our community colleges are where their journey can begin,” said MC Belk Pilon, president and board chair of the John M. Belk Endowment. “Our goal is for all North Carolinians to have access to an education that will lead to skills, credentials, and degrees, and ultimately the opportunities to achieve their dreams and to help meet the workforce needs across our state.”