John M. Belk Endowment Workforce Relevance Planning Grant

John M. Belk Endowment Workforce Relevance Planning Grant

Wilkes Community College Mission: Wilkes Community College enhances the quality of life through the following: quality education and workforce development, including basic-skills, occupational, technical and pre-baccalaureate programs. economic development services to business and industry, both public and private. community development through a variety of services, cultural activities, and recreational opportunities

Wilkes Community College Partners: Wilkes Economic Development Corporation Participants: Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Wilkes County Government, Wilkes Communications, Wilkes County Schools, Ashe Chamber of Commerce, Ashe County EDC, Ashe County Government, Ashe County Schools, Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, Alleghany County Government, Alleghany County Schools, Town of Wilkesboro, Gardner Glass Products, Wilkes County Health Department, Appalachian Regional Health District, Wilkes Health Foundation, Appalachian State University, Wilkes Regional Medical Center, Lowe s Companies, Ashe Memorial Hospital, Alleghany Memorial Hospital, Wilkes Partnership for Children, Wilkes Communities in Schools, North Wilkesboro Housing Authority, Herring Family Foundation, First National Bank, Carolina West Wireless, Cube Creative Design.

Wilkes Community College Process Overview Initial Leadership Committee-Met May 16-26 Participants Generated Broad Ideas and identified Core Group Participants Core Group 1 Complete Educational Foundation Met May 30 16 Participants Core Group 2 Obtain Postsecondary Credentials Met May 31-23 Participants Core Group 3 Enter and Advance in the Workplace Met June 1-18 Participants Each Core Group Developed Strategies to Enhance Economic Mobility within this framework Final Leadership Committee Met June 9 with 14 Participants to Prioritize Strategies

Labor Analytics Over the next 10 years the WCC service area is projected to have 997 fewer jobs, a decrease of.3%, but over that time replacement demand for existing jobs is projected to be 8,814. Industries expected to have the most demand are: Total Approx Repl Demand Total Growth Demand Retail Trade 1,407-123 -0.3% Manufacturing 1,290-724 -1.3% Accommodation and Food Services 1,011-36 -0.1% Health Care and Social Assistance 1,010 489 0.9% Avg. Annual Growth Percent

Labor Analytics Both median household and per capita are much lower than the region. Median Household Income WCC Area Charlotte MSA Regional Collaborative $34,451 $53,076 $48,709 Per Capita Income $19,820 $28,946 $26,180

Labor Analytics A much higher percentage of residents in the WCC service area live below the poverty level and receive food stamps. Poverty Level (of all people) Households Receiving Food Stamps WCC Area Charlotte MSA 22.1% 14.9% 16.4% Regional Collaborativ e 18.9% 12.8% 14.0%

Education makes a difference Jobs by Median Hourly Wage Level, North Carolina, 2014 Bachelor s degree Source: EMSI 2015

Educational attainment, Age 25-64 WCC Area Charlotte MSA Regional Collaborative No High School 19.4% 11.0% 12.6% Diploma High School 31.1% 23.5% 26.4% Graduate Some College, No 22.7% 21.9% 21.8% Degree Associate's Degree 11.1% 9.2% 9.7% Bachelor's Degree 11.2% 23.8% 20.0% Postgraduate Degree 4.5% 10.6% 9.4% Source: Job EQ Wilkes Community College Overview

Improving Economic Mobility Through Educational Attainment and Support Given the educational attainment and economic distress of the service area we have developed four goals to help break the generational cycle of poverty. The primary focus of the plan focuses on the population from middle school to early adult hood expanding educational opportunity and economic mobility. The plan also includes a safety-net of emergency assistance that would impact not only our students but benefit the entire population of working poor.

Overview Goal 1 - Improve students understanding of career options and educational pathways. Goal 2 Broaden financial support to allow all students to pursue educational pathways leading to greater economic mobility. Goal 3 Comprehensive emergency assistance and referral program. Goal 4 Enhance and expand opportunities for students to connect with business and industry to gain real world work experiences.

Features and Benefits Strategy 1.1 - WCC Career & College Coaches in Middle Schools and High Schools Description: Support for students as they explore careers and make college plans; collaborate with school counselors and administrators to help students link educational pathways to careers; help students make forward-thinking decisions as they plan schedules; meet with parents; help identify students for scholarships and other programs. Outcome: Increase number of students who obtain postsecondary credential with realistic expectations and plans by the time they graduate Budget: Six Coaches: $360,000 Annually, Equipment $12,000 for First Year

Features and Benefits Strategy 1.2 - Comprehensive Career Counseling, Academic Advising & Mentoring Center Description: Expand career counseling and academic advising services for prospective students and current students to ensure every student has a clear plan that leads from college to obtaining a job; case-management approach to connecting students to WCC and community resources; transition assistance for students changing schools, campuses, or programs; financial literacy training; peer mentors Outcomes: Each student will have a guided pathway plan, which will increase retention and graduations rates and improve economic mobility. Budget: Four Advisors: $240,000 Annually, Equipment $8,000 for first year. Starfish Software: $24,000 Annually. Career Coach Software: $8,000 Annually.

Features and Benefits Strategy 2.1 Scholarship Program Description: Intentional use of scholarship funds to support selected low-income students in pursuit of associate degree in programs that meet real-world employment needs in our service area; include books and living expenses. For example, if Wilkes Regional Medical Center needs nurses, then we will incentivize high school students to complete nursing program with these scholarships. If Smith s Diesel & Heavy Equipment cannot find certified technicians, we will incentivize students to enroll in and complete this program. Outcomes: Increased enrollment. Increased graduation rate. Increased retention rate. Meet local employment challenges in hard-to-fill areas that pay a living wage. Scholarships for 25 students annually at $5,000 each: $250,000

Features and Benefits Strategy 2.2 Tuition Guarantee Program Description: Provide sufficient scholarships funds to the cover the cost of tuition and fees for all high school graduates from service area who have the academic ability and drive to succeed; target low-income students and the income group that would not qualify for full Pell. Require students to participate in Career & College Promise while in high school so they get some college credit early and we can manage costs of them gaining a post secondary credential. Outcomes: Increase access to postsecondary education for economically challenged students and middle class families. Decrease overall expense of 4 year degrees. Increased enrollment. Increased graduation rate. Increased retention rate. Budget: Scholarships: $500,000

Features and Benefits Strategy 3.1 Comprehensive Emergency Assistance and Referral Program Description: Develop a systematic, coordinated approach to connect people with available resources in the community, including both a physical and virtual presence. Provide emergency funds in situations where other resources are not available. Outcomes: Improve economic mobility by providing a safety net that is lacking in the lives of the lower income population. Increased graduation rate. Increased retention rate. Budget: Intake position $50,000. Equipment $2,000. Emergency fund match $25,000.

Features and Benefits Strategy 4.1 Enhance and expand opportunities for students to connect with business and industry to gain real world work experiences. Description: Increase opportunities for students to work with local businesses, experience work expectations, learn on the job, etc. Work-Based Learning, shadowing, internships, apprenticeships, work study; tuition assistance for professional development and advancement Outcomes: Increased number of paid internships and apprenticeships in the service area. Increase program completion. Increase employment rates of graduates. Budget: Position to be a liaison between industry and students $55,000. Equipment $2,000. Supplemental funds to support interns: $50,000

Implementation Costs & Timeline Goal One Time Cost Annual Cost Goal 1- Counseling $20,000 $600,000 Goal 2- Financial Support $0 $750,000 Goal 3- Emergency Assistance $2,000 $75,000 Goal 4- Internships and Apprenticeships $2,000 105,000 Total $24,000 $1,530,000 Projected Timeline: Beginning Fall 2018

Key Learnings This process links directly with our overall Strategic Planning Process and helped propel us forward in developing plans in certain key areas. There is a widely understood need in our community to put career & college coaches in high schools (shared with middle schools) to help students develop clear, realistic goals that create educational pathways to jobs that pay a living wage. Numerous groups in our community are working to battle poverty, but we lack organization & there is come duplication of efforts and other areas that are not being addressed. We are doing many of the things we need to be doing as a community & as a college, but we need more resources to develop a more comprehensive and consistent approach. Must consider the sensitivities of key partners when proposing changes to their processes and areas of responsibility.

Applications We are open to exploring partnerships with other colleges, businesses, industry or others who will collaborate with us to serve our students more effectively. All goals in the plan could be transferable to other community colleges and could be replicated or scaled up or down depending on the institution size.

Appendix North Carolina s Economic Imperative: Building an Infrastructure of Opportunity -http://stateofthesouth.org/north-carolinas-economic-imperative/ Job EQ Wilkes Community College Overview