June 19 – A new plan aims to change course funding for community colleges in North Carolina to better meet the needs of local employers.
The North Carolina Community College System has unveiled Propel NC, which it calls “a new community college business model for the new NC economy.”
Propel NC proposes investing more money in programs that produce workers for in-demand, high-wage jobs in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, information technology and healthcare.
North Carolina is expected to have more than 576,000 job openings annually by 2031, according to the NC Community Colleges website. To fill these positions, there must be skilled workers equipped to do so.
The goal is for Propel NC to get people to work more efficiently.
The new plan “is intended to address labor shortages – current and projected labor shortages,” said Dr. Shelley White, president of Haywood Community College. Two areas of great importance are manufacturing and health care, she said.
Shift the focus to vocational skills
The current financing model of community colleges emphasizes training. Propel NC would be a more jobs-oriented model, said Laura Leatherwood, president of Blue Ridge Community College. She used welding as an example. Per course, community colleges receive more money for a student who participates in welding and pursues an associate degree than for a student who takes the exact same courses and only seeks a certification.
“If you look at our economy today, our economy values the credential, and the credential could be a TIG or a MIG welding certification, not necessarily a college degree in welding,” Leatherwood said. “So if you look at the economy in the state of North Carolina, TIG or MIG means just as much, if not more, than a welder’s degree, right?”
The new proposal “really eliminates the line between funding training and funding workforce development programs,” White said.
The current model has been around for over a decade and many consider it outdated. In August, a committee of community college presidents was formed to review, research and think about what a new financing system would look like. The General Assembly also provided input, suggesting that university courses should be better aligned with the requirements for jobs the state is recruiting. The legislator wants courses to focus on in-demand and high-paying jobs.
“More and more companies need a greater number of people entering the workforce at a faster pace,” Leatherwood says, adding that she thinks the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift as more people leave the workforce.
Employer requirements are linked to financing
The Legislature’s funding for community colleges will be based on what drives economic growth and meets the demands of employers across the state under the new model.
“One of the things we’ve been hearing a lot about in the state is that North Carolina has been named the best state for business two years in a row. To remain competitive with businesses and support the needs in our state, Going back to things like health care, we as a state must invest in workforce development,” White said.
Last fall, HCC enrollment for short-term referrals increased by 10%. To meet student demand following the pandemic and factory closures, HCC offered more technical programs in the evenings and short-term courses for flexibility.
“I think it shows that people are looking for options. And also flexibility, and being aware of how long it takes to complete a degree or something that will help them in their next job or to advance in their field,” said Wit.
Leatherwood said enrollment within the community college system in NC is up about 4%. And most of that growth is in workforce training, she said.
“I think that’s very important,” she added. “If we can get this funded, it could mean a 3.71% increase for Haywood Community College, a college that I can’t think of that has a greater need than Haywood, based on a recent loss of industry in that particular area. area.”
More money for community colleges
To fund training for higher demand for job skills at higher wages, an additional $68 million in funding will be needed.
“The plan in its entirety is a $68 million request from the Legislature, which we recognize is significant. However, community colleges are the engine of our state’s workforce. And so I think investing in community colleges will pay lasting dividends for our state in terms of having a prepared workforce,” White said.
The proposal also recommends an increase in funding for some study areas.
“The three main areas they are looking at in terms of increasing the value of financing are in-demand healthcare, engineering and manufacturing, and trade and transportation are the others,” White said. “That fits in well with what we’re doing with our construction programs and truck driver training. It’s also encouraging because it feels like we’re meeting the needs of the workforce.”
More money for upfront needs
The proposal includes an increase in funding for community colleges. Each college, regardless of size, receives an allocation that covers basic functions including the financial aid and admissions office and the business office that processes payments, etc. The proposed funding would increase that amount.
Propel NC is also recommending a change to its reserve fund, which should help students in difficult circumstances. Currently, university presidents said, the state provides these funds after the fact. This means that colleges are catching up.
“If you have a significant layoff, like Haywood County has had with Evergreen or Champion paper and a surge of students, you won’t get the money until next year,” Leatherwood explained. “What this would do is say, ‘Okay, we recognize that you have a peak, and there’s a reserve here, we’re going to give you some of that reserve to help you serve that company and those employees,’ that’s what the Registration Reserve is sufficient. It gives you the ability to serve the students who come to your door in real time.”
Both Leatherwood and White hope the General Assembly supports the new Propel NC model.
“We feel like it drives accountability, it’s measurable and it aligns credentials and careers,” Leatherwood said. “We believe that if the General Assembly invests in this new model, the number of highly qualified people can only increase.”
