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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.

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.

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.

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...

The Knoxville News-Sentinel

University of Tennessee adjusts growth plan to have more students on campus

University of Tennessee adjusts growth plan to have more students on campus

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville's plan for more in-person students includes three new residence halls on campus by 2030.

National College Attainment Network Report Reveals Worsening College Affordability Crisis Across U.S.

National College Attainment Network Report Reveals Worsening College Affordability Crisis Across U.S.

A new data analysis by the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) indicates that college is becoming increasingly unaffordable for students across the United States. The report, which analyzed 2023–24 data, found that only about one in three public four-year colleges are affordable, with an average affordability gap of $1,801 for students. For community colleges, nearly 60 percent were financially out of reach, resulting in an average gap of $1,228. The affordability crisis is particularly severe in some states; for instance, in New Hampshire, no public college was found to be affordable, with students facing an average deficit of over $11,000 per year for community colleges and $7,000 for bachelor’s-granting institutions. NCAN attributes this widening gap primarily to inflation, as the rising costs of living have outpaced tuition and fees, and investments in public higher education programs have not kept pace with the eroding purchasing power of available aid.

Honda USA Foundation Launches $10 Million 'Drive the Legacy Fund' for HBCUs

Honda USA Foundation Launches $10 Million 'Drive the Legacy Fund' for HBCUs

The Honda USA Foundation has announced the creation of the 'Drive the Legacy Fund,' a new $10 million endowment aimed at providing long-term, sustainable support to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This initiative builds upon Honda's nearly four decades of engagement with HBCUs. The fund is designed to address critical institutional needs, including aging infrastructure, technology gaps, cybersecurity, faculty recruitment and retention, and administrative capacity. The program will focus on two main areas: Infrastructure & Technology, which includes facilities modernization, digital systems, and cybersecurity enhancements, and Institutional Capacity, covering faculty support, administrative operations, and professional development. Institutional grants are projected to range from $100,000 to $250,000 annually, with funding available for projects lasting up to two years. The application process is scheduled to commence in March 2027, starting with a competitive Letter of Intent phase. I...

A$AP Rocky Announces Four-Year Full-Tuition Roc Nation School Scholarship

A$AP Rocky Announces Four-Year Full-Tuition Roc Nation School Scholarship

Rapper-actor and May 2025 Variety cover star A$AP Rocky has announced a four-year full-tuition scholarship for a student to attend the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University. The scholarship will provide a first-time freshman student the opportunity to pursue a four-year education at the Roc Nation School “while gaining […]

Colleges Employ Marketing Strategies to Spin U.S. News Rankings Outcomes

Colleges Employ Marketing Strategies to Spin U.S. News Rankings Outcomes

U.S. colleges are actively engaging in marketing strategies to present their performance in the annual U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings in a positive light, even when overall rankings decline. Following the release of the latest rankings, institutions issued numerous self-congratulatory press releases. For example, New College of Florida, which plunged 74 spots in the U.S. News rankings since a conservative overhaul began in 2023, highlighted improvements in specific metrics such as financial resources per student, academic profile of the incoming class, and full-time faculty. The college's news release omitted its overall U.S. News ranking and its performance compared to previous years, instead focusing on other ranking schemes where it showed improvement. Similarly, the State University System of Florida, despite most of its 12 member institutions falling in the U.S. News rankings, issued a statement trumpeting an 'upward trajectory' by pointing to performance across multiple national rank...

European Tours Helped Raise the Money Needed to Build Jubilee Hall

European Tours Helped Raise the Money Needed to Build Jubilee Hall

Jubilee Hall, located on the campus of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, stands as a powerful symbol of resilience and the transformative po...

Senator Jerry Moran Secures $2.1 Million for McPherson College Lab Enhancements

Senator Jerry Moran Secures $2.1 Million for McPherson College Lab Enhancements

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas has secured $2.1 million in congressionally directed funding for McPherson College. This funding is specifically allocated for enhancements to the lab spaces within Melhorn Science Hall. The improvements are intended to support the college's mission to advance rural and community health, particularly benefiting students enrolled in the exercise science degree program. This program is designed to address the increasing demand for professionals in health, fitness, and sports-related fields, offering specializations in strength and conditioning or exercise physiology. The investment aims to provide students with improved facilities for their academic and practical training.