N.C. Puts Big Money on Graduating More Community College Students in High-Wage Fields
Several months ago, leaders at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina, looked at their data on college completion rates and noticed that students in their career technical education programs were not finishing. Among them were machining, diesel mechanics, mechatronics, and construction — relevant programs in a growing region where companies including GE Hitachi and Corning have a big footprint.
Sabrina Terry, vice president of student services at the college, says students in these programs would often take some courses, maybe complete a certificate, and then learn the rest of the skills they needed on the job. They didn’t see the need to finish their degrees until much later.
It’s a common view among students well beyond Cape Fear, especially in the tight labor market of the past few years.
