The State Board of Community Colleges has awarded funds for the newly created NCWorks Career Coaches Program. In 2015, the General Assembly created NCWorks Career Coaches to place academic and career advisers from community colleges into public high schools throughout North Carolina. The program is a public-private initiative aimed at increasing enrollment in the state’s workforce pipeline, which includes community colleges, apprenticeships and industry certificate programs.
“NCWorks Career Coaches will offer access and guidance to more opportunities for our college, career and technical students,” said Sen. Chad Barefoot (R-Wake), who authored the legislation in 2015 and fought for its inclusion in the state budget.
“Cooperation between community colleges and high schools is crucial to ensuring that students are prepared for college or their career upon graduation,” said Sen. Barefoot. “When we engage students about their future earlier in their education, we are actively working to close the skills and interest gaps currently facing North Carolina’s workforce.”
In 2014, Central Carolina Works was created and served as the model for this program. Central Carolina Works placed career and college advisors from Central Carolina Community College in every high school in Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties to encourage participation in dual enrollment courses and give students guidance regarding two and four year degrees that they may pursue using the college credit earned through dual enrollment.
Below is a breakdown of the awarded funds:
College
Region
# NCWorks Career Coaches
Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute
West
3
Cleveland Community College
West
2
Blue Ridge Community College
West
1
Gaston College
West
2
McDowell Technical Community College
West
1
Western Piedmont Community College
West
2
Alamance Community College
Central
2
Central Carolina Community College
Central
3
Piedmont Community College
Central
2
Randolph Community College
Central
2
Vance-Granville Community College
Central
1
Johnston Community College
East
1
Pitt Community College
East
3
Robeson Community College
East
3
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