Community college board highlights student support program, Propel NC funding case
RALEIGH — The State Board of Community Colleges highlighted early results from an inclusive workforce training program and reviewed economic projections for Propel NC, the system’s proposed funding model, as lawmakers continue short-session budget work.
The N.C. Community College System posted the update May 26 following the board’s May meeting. According to the system, the board reviewed updates on student achievement programs, economic impact projections tied to its legislative request and leadership transitions for the 58-college system.
Propel NC is the community college system’s major funding proposal. The model is intended to better align state funding with programs tied to high-demand and high-wage workforce sectors, including fields such as health care, information technology, manufacturing, trades and transportation.
EdNC reported that system officials are again asking lawmakers to fund a $93 million recurring request for Propel NC, after seeking legislative support for the model in prior sessions. The Senate’s 2025-27 budget proposal previously included about $73 million over the biennium for the funding model.
The board also heard updates on Access to Achievement, a workforce training program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program provides support services intended to help students with IDD earn credentials, build employment skills and access the broader college experience.
At the May meeting, the board approved a $2.9 million allocation to the 15 colleges participating in Access to Achievement, according to EdNC. The program could expand to 25 colleges under Senate Bill 991, which had passed the Senate Education Committee unanimously as of EdNC’s May report.
The community college system has also received philanthropic funding to expand workforce-related student support. On May 15, the system announced $6 million in new commitments from the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and AmeriHealth Caritas North Carolina to expand the Boost student success model into health care workforce pipelines.
Community colleges sit at the center of several state policy debates, including workforce shortages, rural economic development, health care staffing and education funding. The system’s May update frames its legislative request around return on investment and workforce completion, rather than only institutional funding needs.
The State Board is also in a leadership transition. Earlier in May, the board named Bill Carver interim president of the N.C. Community College System, effective July 1, after President Jeff Cox retires June 30.
Lawmakers have not completed final short-session budget decisions. If funded, Propel NC would represent a significant shift in how North Carolina directs money to community college programs tied to workforce demand.
Editor’s note: This article was drafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence and was reviewed and fact-checked by a member of the NC Political News editorial team before publication.
