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In collaboration with national nonprofit InsideTrack, UNC System expands multi-campus program designed to help remove barriers to college access and success
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of North Carolina (UNC) System has launched a statewide, multi-campus initiative that is harnessing the power of one-on-one student success coaching to help students with some college and no degree or credential return to and complete their studies at one of eight UNC system schools. In collaboration with national nonprofit InsideTrack, the System is supporting the outreach and coaching at the following campuses: Appalachian State University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, UNC Pembroke, Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem State University. "The pandemic has made college access more challenging than ever, especially for adult learners and students from historically underrepresented populations," said Eric Fotheringham, director of community college partnerships and adult learner initiatives at the University of North Carolina System. "The expansion of this work will be a crucial part of the System's efforts to support returning students, remove barriers to re-enrollment and success, and ensure that students have the support they need to succeed." Nationally, more than  39 million adults have at least some college but no degree or credential according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, up from more than 36 million only 3 years ago. While North Carolina has made progress toward its ambitious attainment goal of 66% for adults ages 25-44 by 2030, currently only 52.1% of residents have earned a postsecondary degree or certificate. In North Carolina there are more than 1 million adults with some college, but no degree or credential, 33.8% of whom are under 35 years of age and 53.5% are between 35 and 64. The UNC System has sharpened and expanded its focus on adult learners and those with some credit but no degree or credential with support from public and private partners. Private foundations have been investing in the UNC System's adult learner work for a number of years and in 2021, the president of the UNC System, Peter Hans, announced that the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $97 million for the launch of  Project Kitty Hawk , a nonprofit ed-tech startup that will partner with the UNC System to help universities design workforce-aligned online programs, as well as attract, enroll, and support adult learners through graduation. With this generous public and private support, the UNC System Office expanded its partnership with InsideTrack to bring thousands more stopped-out students back to UNC System campuses, many of which are minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and coach those interested in completing their degrees through the process of re-enrolling and successfully resuming their studies. The work is the result of a successful collaboration and coaching partnership between InsideTrack and the UNC System, which began with an initial pilot program nearly three years ago. Results from the program to date have been promising, while also surfacing new insights into the most common barriers that cause students to stop out, many of which became even more prevalent as institutions across the country began to grapple with the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. Students most often attributed stopping out of school to balancing school with work and family responsibilities (46%) and financial resource constraints (24%). Following the success of the pilot program in 2019, along with the valuable insights they gained about their student population, UNC System administrators chose to expand their efforts to other schools in the system and help students return to and complete their higher education on a wider scale, as the number of students with some college but no credential continues to rise. The engagement with the UNC System is one of a wide range of strategic partnerships that InsideTrack is supporting across the state of North Carolina focused on increasing college access, completion, and workforce readiness. Earlier this summer, InsideTrack announced the expansion of the John M. Belk Endowment NC Reconnect program, initially launched in 2021 with a coalition of community colleges, resulting in successful outreach to 12,000 adult learners. In 2022, this number has expanded by an additional 10,500 adult learners. Beyond its focus on re-engaging returning students with some college experience, the UNC System office is also working to strengthen postsecondary access and enrollment among first-time, low-income students. Through a three-year project, the System is working with InsideTrack to build coaching programs for students who enrolled in college through the federally- funded GEAR UP program. "To help more students chart a successful path to earning a degree or credential, it's critical that we support the needs of the whole student by working with them to overcome non-academic barriers to student success," said Carrie Lockhert, associate vice president for partner success at InsideTrack. "This unique collaboration between the state system office, its institutions, and other agencies across the state will help more North Carolinians access pathways to and through higher education." About UNC System: The University of North Carolina System enrolls nearly 250,000 students at 17 institutions, including the state's 16 public universities and the nation's first public residential high school for academically gifted students. The UNC System is among the strongest and most diverse higher education systems in the country, with more than $1.8 billion in research expenditures and campuses that serve every region of the state. Affiliate organizations include UNC Health and PBS North Carolina, with its 12-station broadcast network. For more information, please visit https://www.northcarolina.edu . About InsideTrack: InsideTrack is passionate about helping all learners achieve their education and career goals through the transformative power of coaching. Since 2001, we've served 2.6 million learners, partnering with more than 250 institutions and organizations to directly improve enrollment, persistence, completion and career readiness. Our coaching methodology is evidence-based and research-confirmed, with proven outcomes for every type of learner — from traditional to adult, part-time to full-time, online to in-person — including first generation students and those who face systemic barriers to postsecondary success. We also work with partners to build internal coaching capacity through staff training and professional services — designed to sustain advances in-house for lasting, scalable impact. InsideTrack is a part of Strada Collaborative, a mission-driven nonprofit. To learn more, visit  www.insidetrack.org and follow us on Twitter  @InsideTrack  and LinkedIn  @InsideTrack. SOURCE InsideTrack

09:00 EDT
UNC Expands Statewide Initiative Designed to Help Stopped-Out Students Complete College

Winston-Salem’s Smith Reynolds Airport is about to become a place to go to explore a career in the growing unmanned aircraft industry. 

AeroX, the nonprofit organization at Smith Reynolds building a traffic-management system for unmanned aircraft, recently joined with Piedmont Flight Training and Elizabeth City State University on a plan to help expose students to the industry. 

Under the agreement, AeroX will host two paid interns from among students in the online version of the university’s…

Want to work in the unmanned aircraft industry? Head to this North Carolina airport

Want to work in the unmanned aircraft industry? Head to Winston-Salem's Smith Reynolds Airport

Bipartisan Congressional Delegation Sends Letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Explaining Why North Carolina Is Ideal Location for ARPA-H to Accomplish Its Mission
July 14, 2022 03:01 PM Eastern Daylight Time
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Leaders from public and private universities, businesses, nonprofits, trade associations and state government have joined forces to bring the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health headquarters to North Carolina. ARPA-H recently received $1 billion in inaugural funding from Congress to improve the U.S. government’s ability to speed biomedical and health research to prevent, detect and treat diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer. The ARPA-H in NC Coalition, facilitated by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, is some 30 partners strong and growing. The Coalition is coordinating efforts locally and in Washington to demonstrate that, with this partnership, ARPA-H can have a rapid, effective start and accomplish its mission in the Tar Heel state. Each partner adds to the case that North Carolina has the expertise, record of entrepreneurial disruption, cross-sector collaboration and scientific innovations. North Carolina translates ideas from initial technology to discovery to development through manufacturing to prevent, treat and potentially cure a range of diseases. This statewide collaboration follows a recent bipartisan letter from members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation led by Rep. David E. Price and both Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis. The bipartisan members urge Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to strongly consider North Carolina, with its unique assets, as the best location for launching ARPA-H’s success. North Carolina has a “demonstrated record of industries partnering with our institutions of higher education across the state to bolster our nation’s health workforce, leading breakthrough biomedical, biotechnology and life sciences research on a global scale,” the letter states. “Our thriving economy, strategic location in the southeastern United States and low cost of living are attracting and retaining the world’s best and brightest. With an unmatched business environment, North Carolina offers a full complement of clinical, STEM, biotech and business training programs to prepare for a workforce skilled in cutting edge research, academia, health care and digital health for both public and private sectors.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper offered his support for bringing ARPA-H’s headquarters to North Carolina stating, “North Carolina is prepared to help do what we do best: Marshal our world-class universities, researchers, biotechnology companies and local leaders to build focused partnerships to solve big challenges. North Carolina is ready to support the most audacious innovations in health care, focused on equity in our practices and outcomes.”
Additionally, North Carolina’s bipartisan, bicameral legislative Life Sciences Caucus supports the effort to bring the ARPA-H headquarters to the state. Mary Beth Thomas, senior vice president, science and business development at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center added, “North Carolina offers ARPA-H a thriving life sciences ecosystem, world-class educational and research institutions, broad talent pipeline and a diverse business climate unrivaled by other states. North Carolina’s ecosystem has a highly collaborative culture with partnerships at the core of our success. This environment will accelerate ARPA-H’s efforts to quickly and efficiently begin to address our nation’s biggest health challenges.”
About the ARPA-H in NC Coalition
The ARPA-H in NC Coalition formed to be a partner to the agency in its mission to improve the health and lives of all Americans. Coalition members include Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Charlotte Region Business Alliance, Duke Health, Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, ECU Health, East Carolina University, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, NCBIO, NC Chamber, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina Healthcare Association, North Carolina State University, Office of the Governor, Raleigh Chamber, RTI International, Research Triangle Foundation, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, SAS Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Charlotte, UNC Health, University of North Carolina System, Wake County Economic Development, and Wake Forest University. Contacts

North Carolina Unified in Attracting New ARPA-H Headquarters to the State

. Leaders from public and private universities, businesses, nonprofits, trade associations and state government have joined forces to bring the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health headquarters to North Carolina. ARPA-H recently received $1 billion in inaugural funding from congress to improve the U.S. government's ability to speed biomedical and health research to prevent, detect and treat diseases like Alzheimer’s, diabetes and cancer. The ARPA-H in NC Coalition, facilitated by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center, is some 30 partners strong and growing. The Coalition is coordinating efforts locally and in Washington to demonstrate that, with this partnership, ARPA-H can have a rapid, effective start and accomplish its mission in the Tar Heel state. Each partner adds to the case that North Carolina has the expertise, record of entrepreneurial disruption, cross-sector collaboration and scientific innovations. North Carolina translates ideas from initial technology to discovery to development through manufacturing to prevent, treat and potentially cure a range of diseases. This statewide collaboration follows a recent bipartisan letter from members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation led by Rep. David E. Price and both Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis. The bipartisan members urge Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to strongly consider North Carolina, with its unique assets, as the best location for launching ARPA-H’s success. North Carolina has a “demonstrated record of industries partnering with our institutions of higher education across the state to bolster our nation’s health workforce, leading breakthrough biomedical, biotechnology and life sciences research on a global scale,” the letter states. “Our thriving economy, strategic location in the southeastern United States and low cost of living are attracting and retaining the world’s best and brightest. With an unmatched business environment, North Carolina offers a full complement of clinical, STEM. biotech and business training programs to prepare for a workforce skilled in cutting-edge research, academia, health care and digital health for both public and private sectors.”
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper offered his support for bringing ARPA-H’s headquarters to North Carolina stating, “North Carolina is prepared to help do what we do best: Marshal our world-class universities, researchers, biotechnology companies and local leaders to build focused partnerships to solve big challenges. North Carolina is ready to support the most audacious innovations in health care, focused on equity in our practices and outcomes.”
Additionally, North Carolina’s bipartisan, bicameral legislative Life Sciences Caucus supports the effort to bring the ARPA-H headquarters to the state. Mary Beth Thomas, senior vice president of science and business development at the North Carolina Biotechnology Center added, “North Carolina offers ARPA-H a thriving life sciences ecosystem, world-class educational and research institutions, broad talent pipeline and a diverse business climate unrivaled by other states. North Carolina’s ecosystem  has a highly collaborative culture with partnerships at the core of our success. This environment will accelerate ARPA-H’s efforts to quickly and efficiently begin to address our nation’s biggest health challenges.”
About the ARPA-H in NC Coalition
The ARPA-H in NC Coalition formed to be a partner to the agency in its mission to improve the health and lives of all Americans. Coalition members include Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Charlotte Region Business Alliance, Duke Health, Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University, ECU Health, East Carolina University, Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, Greater Durham Chamber, NCBIO, NC Chamber, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina Community College System, North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina Healthcare Association, North Carolina State University, Office of the Governor, Raleigh Chamber, RTI International, Research Triangle Foundation, Research Triangle Regional Partnership, SAS Institute , University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of North Carolina Charlotte, UNC Health, University of North Carolina System, Wake County Economic Development and Wake Forest University. The ARPA-H in NC Coalition
Thu, 07/14/2022

Wake Technical Community College is a community college. It is based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Wake Technical Community College

The partnership between Wake Tech and Elizabeth City State University will uniquely position North Carolina in offering a quality UAS -- or drone -- program focused on public safety , one of the fastest growing fields to have adopted UAS technology .

ECSU Partners with Wake Tech for Drone Training and Public Safety Programs for Students – Elizabeth City State University

United Airlines is an American airline headquartered in Chicago. Its flights cover both domestic and international routes, spanning across cities in the United States, as well as across the continents.

United Airlines

Edgecombe Community College is a two-year public institution of higher learning with campuses located in Tarboro and Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Edgecombe Community College

Woolpert is an international architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) firm.

Woolpert

University of North Alabama

Intergraph Corporation

Wachovia Securities

Merrill

Ernst & Young

Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is a university. It is based in Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

Name	Clinton Carter
Work History	University of North Alabama, Intergraph Corporation, Wachovia Securities, Merrill, and Ernst & Young
Title	Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President
Status	Former

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