Following the state releasing its final biennial budget, North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) announced funding wins for the state’s community colleges, and noted that the $1.46 billion investment in the community college system is the largest received over the past decade.
“This biennial budget reflects the critical and long-term role that the Community College System serves in our higher education and economic development ecosystems,” said NCCCS President Thomas Stith. “The appropriated state funds will help our community colleges to continue their mission of maximizing student success by providing the support, training and education needed for high-quality, high-demand, high-skilled, and high-wage careers.”
Among other provisions, the new state budget:
- Allocates $28.5 million to complete the modernization of the system’s Enterprise Resource Planning system;
- Provides $1.5 million for nine regional cybersecurity positions;
- Invests $495 million in capital funding for colleges in the 2021-23 biennium, with an additional $200M planned in the 2023-25 biennium;
- Allocates $15 million to expand broadband access to 25 rural community colleges;
- Provides $5.2 million to assist community colleges with starting high-cost programs;
- Provides $2 million to expand adult learner initiatives helping to assist adults in completing degrees or credentials.
