Why Adult Learners Persist, and How Colleges Can Engage Them
by EdNC: What makes adult learners persist? Despite many barriers, adult learners primarily persist to increase their earning power or workplace advancement and for personal fulfillment, according to Dr. Matt Bergman, a University of Louisville professor of educational leadership and co-author of “Unfinished Business: …
Reimagining Access and Engagement at N.C. Community Colleges
by EdNC: From fall 2012 to fall 2022, college student enrollment dropped by about 1.9 million students – almost 10%. College enrollment has been declining since 2010 – due to factors like falling birth rates and rising college tuition, among others. Such trends were exacerbated …
Research | N.C. Community Colleges Collaborate to Support Adult Learners
by EdNC: Since 2021, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research has gathered data, stories, and lessons learned from colleges participating in NC Reconnect – the initiative to re-engage and enroll adult learners in North Carolina community colleges. The Belk Center, in partnership with …
N.C. Community College Leaders Gather for First Statewide Convening on Adult Learners
State leaders, education stakeholders, and representatives from 52 N.C. community colleges gathered in Greensboro last week for the first statewide convening on how to reengage adult learners. The event, hosted by the John M. Belk Endowment (JMBE) and EducationNC, focused on adult …
Wilkes Re-Enrollment Exceeds Expectations
by Wilkes Journal-Patriot: Wilkes Community College’s results through NC Reconnect, an effort to re-enroll adult students who left before completing degree or credential programs there, so far are exceeding expectations. “We have been blown away by the results we have achieved with …
Visiting Adult Learners in Brunswick and Edgecombe Counties
by EdNC: NC Reconnect – a statewide initiative focused on the recruitment, reengagement, and retention of adult learners within the North Carolina Community College System – added five more colleges at the end of last year. The initiative now includes 15 of the 58 N.C. community colleges …
Caldwell Community College Adult Learner Graduate Heads to Ivy League
by Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute: In January 2021, Adrienne Childres of Lenoir was returning to school as an adult learner at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute. Two years later, Childres is packing her bags for New York City, where …
ECC Joins Initiative to Reconnect with Adult Learners
by Edgecombe Community College: Teams from the John M. Belk Endowment and Education NC visited Edgecombe Community College on Tuesday to launch the college’s participation in NC Reconnect. NC Reconnect is an initiative that unites community colleges with partners from across the …
COA readies for ‘shot of adrenaline’ to boost number of adult students
by The Daily Advance: College of The Albemarle teachers and staff learned more this week about a “shot of adrenaline” intended to help the college attract and keep more adult students. COA President Jack Bagwell told faculty and staff at the college’s …
N.C. Reconnect adds five more community colleges to its adult learner initiative
by EdNC: Five more North Carolina community colleges will join N.C. Reconnect – an initiative aimed at enrolling and credentialing adult learners at the state’s community colleges. Announced Nov. 3, Brunswick, Catawba Valley, College of The Albemarle, Davidson-Davie, and Edgecombe community colleges will be the next cohort of …
Over 100 businesses to be at Greenville career fair Thursday
by WITN: Over 100 businesses are set to be at the Greenville Convention Center Thursday looking to add people to their teams. The “Better Skills, Better Jobs” career fair will be open to the public for time slots from 1:00 p.m. to …
Perspective | NC Reconnect: Loving and serving each adult learner to success at Forsyth Tech
by EdNC: I go to work every day knowing the work we will do that day at Forsyth Technical Community College is going to be important and impactful for our students and our communities. That is what community colleges do. We are difference …
