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| Center for Urban Affairs & Community Services |
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| Contractual Education and Partnership Development | |
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Founded in 1887 as North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, North Carolina State University was established by the North Carolina General Assembly as the state's land-grant institution to provide teaching, research and extension services to the people of the state. Known as the "People's University," NC State has developed into a vital educational resource, providing a wealth of academic offerings, in-depth research, and university outreach and extension programs to all sectors of the state's economy and its citizens. With a student body of more than 34,300, 2,000+ faculty and 5,300+ staff members, and research and program expenditures over $380 million, the University is an active and vital part of North Carolina life. An integral part of NC State's educational mission is the provision of extension and outreach activities.
The McKimmon Center for Extension & Continuing Education (MCE&CE) was established by NC State in 1924 to facilitate access by the general public to the University's intellectual and technical resources. In order to be of greatest value to the diverse constituents it serves, MCE&CE collaborates with partners within the University and throughout the community to deliver timely, relevant, and effective quality programs and services. Through relationships with NC State faculty and staff, local and state governments, nonprofit organizations, business and industry, this centralized, administrative unit of 160+ employees (129 permanent and over 40 temporary workers), is involved in over 1,700 non-degree activities (including those that provide Continuing Education Units, CEUs, and those that do not provide CEUs) for more than 198,000 registrants.
This educational outreach is accomplished through the efforts of the eight units that comprise MCE&CE, Contractual Education and Partnership Development (CEPD) provides assessments, partnership and program development services for the units of MCE&CE, to campus partners, and external clientele. Needs surveys, outcome/impact evaluations and methodologies are key specialties within CEPD. A key component of this unit is Customized Contractual Education which utilizes the intellectual capital of NC State faculty and staff to develop and deliver contractual/customized education and noncredit distance education opportunities tailored to an organization's unique training needs.
The Center for Urban Affairs and Community Services (CUACS) was established in 1966 by the North Carolina Legislature. CUACS provides survey research, program evaluations, outcomes assessment and applied research to public agencies, schools and nonprofit organizations primarily through contractual arrangements that typically exceed $8 million annually. CUACS's Technical Outreach for Public Schools (TOPS) initiative with the NC Department of Public Instruction is a prime example of a long-term relationship with a state agency, spanning 29 years.
Three of the units represent the non-degree Continuing and Professional Education (CPE) component of MCE&CE. The McKimmon Conference and Training Center (MCTC) provides facilities and meeting support services for over 226,000 participants in 2,100 events last year; the Office of Professional Development (OPD) manages approximately 400 programs serving over 19,000 attendees annually; and the Computer Training Unit (CTU) implements more than 500 courses with 2,000 registrants during fiscal year 2010/2011. These combined CPE units generate more than $5 million in receipts-based revenue on an annual basis, providing needed personal growth, IT training and professional development opportunities to citizens of North Carolina and beyond, utilizing minimal state appropriations. Collectively, CPE participants add an estimated $9,000,000 to the local economy annually, based on the formula utilized by the Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Encore Program was approved by the Board of Governors in 1992 and provides lifelong enrichment options for adults over 50 years of age, serving more than 1,100 members each year. Encore's 80+ annual non-credit, six-week courses, which are heavily dependent on the volunteer instruction provided by NC State faculty and staff, add a group of third-age learners to the NC State constituent base.
The Collaborative at the Gateway Technology (CGTC) is a unique partnership between East Carolina University, NC State University, private and community colleges and local public schools in a five county region. The goal of The Collaborative is to extend university opportunities to meet the needs of this larger regional population.
CGTC served a record number of individuals during 2010-2011. Over 8,300 individuals made use of the many for-credit and non-credit programs offered at the GTC, with a total replicated headcount of more than 32,000 individuals served since opening the Gateway Technology Center doors in May, 2006.
Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council (UCPLC) was formed in 2009 to provide higher educational opportunities through a collective effort of the University of North Carolina, the North Carolina Community College System and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in order to increase access to higher education. The UCPLC was formed to address this collaboration covering the five county regions including Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson Counties and including the two private colleges in the region, Barton College and NC Wesleyan. A number of partnerships have been established during many visits to area businesses, government agencies, community colleges, four year colleges, the Department of Public Instruction, social services and 14 schools. In addition, UCPLC have provided funding (2009-2010-- $82,920; 2010-2011--$41,000) in the form of mini-grants to support the needs of various schools and non-profit groups in the five county area.
To learn of our accomplishments, and how these units have helped others achieve their goals, click on any of the eight units to hear their stories.
