Session Law 2015-241 established NCGAP, a deferred admissions program for postsecondary students identified as academically at risk. In January 2016, JLPEOC directed PED to assess the methodology and accuracy of conclusions presented in a legislatively mandated report submitted by the UNC Board of Governors and the State Board of Community Colleges on potential program impacts of NCGAP. PED’s review of the NCGAP report found several shortcomings and concluded it may understate community college cohort six-year graduation rates; used flawed measures of intent to attend a university in its sample selection process; excluded important variables in its regression model; failed to consider recent efforts to increase the success of transfer students; understated potential savings to students; may not adequately measure all student debt; estimated decreases in enrollment at UNC institutions without recognizing simultaneous increases in community college enrollment and degree production; and failed to support its estimate of “tens of millions of dollars” being necessary to advise NCGAP-participating students.
NC Community College System Response to PED Review
Agency Actions:
- The NC Community College System (NCCCS) is proposing a community college transfer incentive as part of its 2017 legislative agenda. Under this incentive, a student who completes an associate degree in arts, fine arts, science, or engineering at a NC Community College and transfers to a UNC constituent institution would receive $2,500 per year for up to two academic years.
- In addition, NCCCS is continuing conversations with UNC-General Administration on ways to partner on programs such as dual enrollment as well as reviewing partnerships already in place between community colleges and universities to determine if those programs should be expanded.