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Cape Fear Community College Announces Record Expansion Plan Amid Enrollment Growth

Cape Fear Community College Announces Record Expansion Plan Amid Enrollment Growth

Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) has unveiled a significant expansion plan, driven by substantial increases in student enrollment. This initiative includes the creation of 73 new faculty and staff positions, marking the largest workforce increase in the institution's history. Additionally, 11 grant-funded roles have been converted into permanent full-time positions. The college has experienced a 16% rise in Workforce Education enrollment hours this year, building on strong growth from the previous year. Curriculum programs also saw a 19% increase in Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) for the 2025-2026 academic year. To accommodate this growth and meet regional workforce demands, CFCC is introducing 19 new Continuing Education and Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, while also expanding at least nine existing CTE offerings. New programs span Advanced Manufacturing & Trades, Film, Media & Technology, and Community & Public Service.

Careers Electric Receives BlackRock Grant to Expand Workforce Development in North Carolina

Careers Electric Receives BlackRock Grant to Expand Workforce Development in North Carolina

Careers Electric Receives BlackRock Grant to Expand Workforce Development in North Carolina

Community College of Rhode Island and Office of Energy Resources Launch HVAC/R and Heat Pump Training Program

Community College of Rhode Island and Office of Energy Resources Launch HVAC/R and Heat Pump Training Program

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and the Office of Energy Resources (OER) have announced a new HVAC/R and Heat Pump Workforce Training program. CCRI has secured $200,000 from OER to develop this program, which is scheduled to launch in the summer/fall of 2027. The initiative aims to build a skilled workforce to support Rhode Island's building electrification and heat pump efforts. The funding will be used to establish a hands-on instructional environment equipped with modern diagnostic instrumentation, electrical learning systems, and field-installable ducted and ductless heat pump systems. Additionally, the grant will support the development of a comprehensive new-hire HVAC/R curriculum, serving as a pre-apprenticeship pathway with a strong focus on refrigeration principles, brazing and piping, and cold-climate applications. For existing HVAC/R professionals, CCRI will also create a 40-hour Heat Pump Installation, Commissioning, Service, and Maintenance program, set to launch by September 2027...

Great Falls College MSU Reports Significant Enrollment Growth and Launches Nation's First Electrical Grid Operator Program

Great Falls College MSU Reports Significant Enrollment Growth and Launches Nation's First Electrical Grid Operator Program

Great Falls College MSU has announced a substantial increase in its student enrollment, with a 35.4% growth in headcount since 2022, reaching 1,614 students this fall. This represents an 8.3% increase from the previous year's 1,490 students. Full-time equivalent enrollment also rose by 7.3% to 949 students. CEO and Dean Dr. Leanne Frost attributes this growth to the college's affordability, especially as the cost of living in Montana increases. The college is also seeing a rise in continuing students, with 569 this fall, up 8.4% from 525 a year ago, indicating strong student retention. Dual enrollment for high school students has also increased. Furthermore, Great Falls College MSU is set to launch the nation's first electrical grid operator training program in January, supported by a Berkshire Hathaway Foundation grant.

VIDA Celebrates 31 Years of Advancing Education and Workforce Development in Rio Grande Valley

VIDA Celebrates 31 Years of Advancing Education and Workforce Development in Rio Grande Valley

The Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA) recently celebrated its 31st anniversary with a gala, recognizing students, community partners, and long-standing supporters. Former U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona delivered the keynote address, urging leaders in the Rio Grande Valley to continue investing in education and workforce development. Cardona, who served as the 12th U.S. Secretary of Education, participated in a fireside conversation with VIDA President and CEO Felida Villarreal, discussing educational opportunities, workforce training, economic mobility, and the challenges faced by first-generation students. Cardona shared his personal journey from a working-class Puerto Rican family to his role as Education Secretary, emphasizing the importance of high expectations for students and recognizing bilingualism and biculturalism as strengths. VIDA focuses on workforce development and career pathways leading to living-wage jobs in high-demand fields such as healthcare, STEM...

Rhode Island Launches New HVAC and Heat Pump Workforce Training Program in 2027

Rhode Island Launches New HVAC and Heat Pump Workforce Training Program in 2027

The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and the Office of Energy Resources (OER) have announced the development and launch of a new HVAC/R and Heat Pump Workforce Training program, scheduled to begin in the summer/fall of 2027. CCRI has secured $200,000 from OER to fund this initiative, which aims to build a skilled workforce to support the state’s building electrification and heat pump efforts. The funding will be used to establish a hands-on instructional environment at the Lincoln Campus lab, equipped with field-installable ducted and ductless heat pump systems, modern diagnostic instrumentation, and electrical learning systems. Additionally, the program will develop a comprehensive new-hire HVAC/R curriculum, serving as a pre-apprenticeship pathway with a focus on refrigeration principles, brazing and piping, and cold-climate applications. For existing HVAC/R professionals, CCRI will also create a 40-hour Heat Pump Installation, Commissioning, Service and Maintenance program, set to launch by Sept...

BCTC Automotive Technology Program Addresses High Demand for Skilled Technicians

BCTC Automotive Technology Program Addresses High Demand for Skilled Technicians

BCTC Automotive Technology Program Addresses High Demand for Skilled Technicians

Governor Hochul Expands Free Community College Access for Adult Learners in New York

Governor Hochul Expands Free Community College Access for Adult Learners in New York

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a significant expansion of her free community college initiative for New Yorkers aged 25 to 55. Starting in January, eligible individuals will be able to enroll in SUNY or CUNY associate degree programs in high-demand fields without tuition costs, even if they already possess a college degree in a different area. This initiative aims to address the evolving workforce landscape, particularly in response to the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI) on jobs. The program will cover tuition, fees, books, and supplies, enabling adult learners to pivot careers and acquire qualifications in growing sectors like advanced manufacturing. This builds upon the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program launched last year, which has already seen over 15,000 adult learners access free community college. Governor Hochul emphasized the importance of preparing New Yorkers for future job markets, noting that AI is transforming businesses and reshaping the skills required for success.

The Columbus Dispatch

Otterbein and Antioch's partnership was widely praised. Now it's headed to court.

Otterbein and Antioch's partnership was widely praised. Now it's headed to court.

Antioch University leaders are taking Otterbein University to court in a legal battle over a partnership that it said turned into a 'hostile takeover'.

Phillips Corporation Seeks Machine Tool Maintenance Specialist in New Hampshire

Phillips Corporation Seeks Machine Tool Maintenance Specialist in New Hampshire

Phillips Corporation Seeks Machine Tool Maintenance Specialist in New Hampshire

Northern Michigan University Launches MySkills@NMU Digital Resume Platform

Northern Michigan University Launches MySkills@NMU Digital Resume Platform

Northern Michigan University (NMU) has introduced a new digital platform called MySkills@NMU, designed to provide students with a comprehensive Learning and Employment Record (LER). This platform, powered by Smart Resume, acts as an 'NMU-branded backpack' where students can consolidate their entire educational and work experience. Unlike traditional resumes that offer a bulleted list of work history and graduation dates, MySkills@NMU allows users to highlight a broader range of credentials, including skills, certificates, and digital badges acquired through formal education, non-credit opportunities, and employer-provided training. Stephanie Zadroga-Langlois, Director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development, emphasized that the platform helps students track not just what they've learned, but what they can do. Brad Hamel, Global Campus Executive Director, noted its particular benefit for 'nontraditional learners and adult learners' who possess diverse skills from various life experiences.

New Research Initiative Explores Goals and Experiences of Noncredit Workforce Students in Community Colleges

New Research Initiative Explores Goals and Experiences of Noncredit Workforce Students in Community Colleges

A new national research effort, led by the Education & Employment Research Center (EERC) at Rutgers University in partnership with the National Council for Workforce Education (NCWE), is underway to better understand students enrolled in noncredit workforce training programs at community colleges. This initiative builds upon previous research involving 83 students at three community colleges, which found that many noncredit students are working-age adults seeking better employment after unsuccessful attempts in credit-bearing programs, often due to financial or academic challenges. These students value the affordability and shorter duration of noncredit programs. The expanded national project involves 15 community colleges across the U.S., gathering data on noncredit offerings, administrative structures, and student experiences through surveys and in-depth interviews. The goal is to elevate student voices and inform how colleges can better support these learners and design programs aligned with their goals...