91ӣ����Ƶ has joined other NC community colleges in an exciting new transfer opportunity with NC State University called Wolfpack Connect. The Guaranteed Admissions Agreement will ensure that students who complete an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree at ECC will be admitted to NC State University.

At the start of their participation, ECC students should have at least one year of coursework remaining, comparable to 30 transferable college credits or less. Prospective transfers may also choose from more than 100 majors and concentrations offered through Wolfpack Connect.

Once accepted into the Wolfpack Connect program, students must complete their associate degree, maintaining a minimum grade point average of 3.0. Transfer admission deadlines and requirements as outlined by NC State must also be met.

“This collaborative agreement provides our students with an affordable and accessible pathway to earn a four-year degree from a premier university that is close to home,” said Dr. Greg McLeod, president of ECC. “We always strive to ensure that our college transfer students are presented with strong, seamless options as they continue their educational journey.”

Wolfpack Connect is one of several pathways ECC has secured to help students transfer from a community college to a four-year institution. Key transfer and guaranteed admission partnerships continue to offer benefits for ECC students through agreements with East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, NC Wesleyan University and UNC Wilmington.

For more information on Wolfpack Connect, visit .

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Christine Nicodemus, dean of Arts and Sciences at 91ӣ����Ƶ, recently attended and presented at the Capture the Journey First-Year Experience Conference hosted by Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and Western Piedmont Community College.

The purpose of the conference, held on the campus of Rowan-Cabarrus, was to share ideas focused on strengthening the first-year student experience. The revised ACA 122 College, Transfer, & Career Success course was also a focus.

According to a description provided by Rowan-Cabarrus, upon completion of the ACA course, “students will be able to identify the community college program that matches their transfer and career goals, navigate transfer policies and processes, use transfer guides, develop an academic plan for future success, and create professional application materials.”

At ECC, Dr. Tracy Hayes, English/Humanities instructor, will serve as one of the leads for the ACA 122 redesign, working with faculty and staff to ensure proper implementation.

The conference also included collaboration among faculty and staff from NC community colleges on best practices for supporting first year-students. Additionally, the conference underscored the significance of student engagement, retention strategies, and innovative teaching approaches through workshops.

Nicodemus had the opportunity to present her own unique approach at the conference with Chuck Bowling, dean of Arts and Sciences at McDowell Technical Community College. Nicodemus and Bowling’s topic was Using Self-Service for academic planning to promote FYE success.

Nicodemus’ biggest takeaway from the conference was that simply distributing information to students is not enough. “Rather, important information should be shared in ways that invite students to reflect, process and apply it,” she explains. “When faculty and staff do this in a way that fosters a sense of community, that is tailored to each student’s unique needs, and that creates opportunities for active learning and meaningful reflection, it can have an even more powerful effect on our first-year and continuing students.”

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The UNCW PathWays program, formerly known as UNCW Pathways to Excellence, assures admission to UNCW for students who complete an associate in arts or associate in science degree at 91ӣ����Ƶ.

The original agreement has been in place since 2018.

UNCW will provide tailored transfer coaching and pre-enrollment assistance from a Transfer Success Coordinator who will meet with students on the ECC campus, working in collaboration with ECC advising staff to help students design a transfer path.

In addition, for students applying to transfer, the transfer application fee will be waived, and students will receive priority consideration for transfer merit scholarships.

Dr. Greg McLeod, president of 91ӣ����Ƶ, and Dr. Aswani Volety, chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, recently signed the agreement.

“We are very pleased to continue this important partnership with UNCW,” notes Dr. McLeod. “The UNCW PathWays program ensures that our students have access to the resources and support they need to successfully complete their associate degree at ECC and their four-year degree at UNCW.

“My son is a junior at UNCW, so I can personally attest to the university’s commitment to quality education and student success.”

Students who are interested in learning more about UNCW PathWays can complete a .

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Tarboro native Gerard Gaskin finished his first two years of college at 91ӣ����Ƶ then transferred to NC State University, where he is a senior in the Technology, Engineering, and Design Education program.

Growing up in the early 2010s, Gerard Gaskin was like most kids his age. He played video games.

“My friends and I all worked in the same video game world, building houses and games,” says the Tarboro native. “I liked playing games and building things in my free time.”

When it came time to plan his future, he set his sights on engineering school at NC State University. But his grades at Tarboro High School weren’t enough to gain entrance into the competitive program.

“My high school advisor told me to go to a community college and get my grades up,” he says. Determined, Gaskin turned to 91ӣ����Ƶ.

Johanna Owens, an English and communications instructor at ECC, taught Gaskin in several classes, remembering him as a “bright, attentive student” who asked a lot of questions.

“He wanted to do well,” she says. “He was very motivated.”

Gaskin enrolled in the College Transfer program at ECC, and in 2022, he graduated with an associate degree in science. Instead of applying to NC State’s engineering program, he discovered a different path that focused more on hands-on engineering.

“He called State and found another avenue,” Owens says. “He didn’t sit back and let it happen. He was invested in making things happen.”

In the fall of 2022, Gaskin transferred to NC State as a junior and enrolled in the Technology, Engineering, and Design Education program.

“He’s on a different path that he originally envisioned, but he’s so excited to be where he is right now,” Owens says. “I’m thrilled that it’s working out for him. I want him to be successful. We built a connection while he was here.”

Gaskin, 21, is making the most of his time at NC State. He likes his professors, he joined a technology and engineering club and is its treasurer, and he’s competing in national competitions against other schools.

Last year, East Coast colleges competed at the Technology and Engineering Education Collegiate Association Eastern Regional Conference in Delaware. NC State took home five awards from the conference in different categories.

“There were a lot of paths you could compete in,” Gaskin explains. “Mine was problem-solving.”

Gaskin and his teammates were tasked with replicating the scene at the end of “Toy Story” in which Buzz Lightyear and Woody jumped a vehicle into a moving truck. The team could only use items supplied by the association organizers.

“Our team didn’t win,” he says, “but I learned a lot about teamwork and collaboration.”

Gaskin is currently seeking an internship with a company that designs floor plans. When he graduates in 2024, he says a job at an architecture firm might be in his future.

He is thriving at a large university thanks to lessons learned at ECC, he says. “I liked learning there. At 91ӣ����Ƶ, you feel like you have a bond with your teachers. The classes are smaller, which for me was a better environment for learning. In large classes, you just don’t get that one-on-one time with professors.

“I learned so much at ECC, like how to be a leader, how to write papers, and how to study. I’m so glad I started there.”

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91ӣ����Ƶ graduate Eren Exum completed her first two years of college at ECC. “It was the best choice for me,” she says.

When Eren Exum starts classes at the University of Alabama as a junior in August, she says she feels well prepared, thanks to the first two years of college she received at 91ӣ����Ƶ.

Exum completed an Associate in Arts degree at ECC in May. She also graduated from Edgecombe Early College High School in May.

The Early College is a five-year public high school located on ECC’s Tarboro campus. A goal of the Early College is to improve college attendance rates for Edgecombe students by exposing them to a rigorous curriculum of high school honors courses and community college courses.

Students graduate with both a high school diploma and a two-year College Transfer degree. Exum earned an Associate in Arts degree, which consists of a minimum of 60 semester hours of credit of college transfer courses.

“I highly recommend completing the first two years of college at ECC,” Exum says. “It was the best choice for me. I wanted to get a head start on my college career.

“The classes were small, so they felt like an extension of my high school classes. The instructors were nice and helpful. Plus, my degree cost very little.”

Exum chose to transfer to the University of Alabama because it boasts among the strongest public relations programs in the country. Her goal is to work in sports media. Football is her favorite sport.

The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa. “It’s a huge campus, but it feels like a small campus, just like I’ve been accustomed to for the past five years,” Exum says.

Edgecombe high school students don’t have to be students at the Early College to take classes at ECC. Through Career & College Promise, qualified high school-age students can pursue college credits – tuition free – while they are in high school, enabling them to get a jumpstart on their workplace and college preparation.

Exum says the personal attention she received at 91ӣ����Ƶ made all the difference. “It feels like everyone there knows everyone there,” she adds.

To learn more about attending ECC as a high school student, please contact dawess@edgecombe.edu.

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Tom Killoran, program chair of mathematics at 91ӣ����Ƶ, provides an orientation to students enrolled in Precalculus Algebra during the first day of summer classes on Tuesday, May 24. Students can enroll in summer semester classes through Thursday, May 26. Summer classes end August 4.

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91ӣ����Ƶ and Barton College have established a transfer agreement that enables ECC Criminal Justice graduates to transfer seamlessly into the justice administration online degree program at Barton. Shown is Ryan Cox, chair of Criminal Justice at ECC, who helped develop the agreement.

Aspiring law enforcement officers who are interested in jobs that require a four-year degree should first look to 91ӣ����Ƶ.

ECC and Barton College recently signed a transfer agreement that will enable ECC Criminal Justice graduates to transfer as juniors into Barton’s bachelor of arts in justice administration program.

“Some of our students are interested in jobs that require a four-year degree, such as probation officer or juvenile court counselor, and they needed expanded opportunities,” explains Ryan Cox, Criminal Justice department chair at ECC.

Cox took over the department in January, and he was tasked with establishing more articulation agreements with area colleges. 91ӣ����Ƶ already has a criminal justice transfer agreement in place with North Carolina Wesleyan College.

The agreement with Barton College is unique in that Barton’s program is entirely online.

“That’s part of the draw,” Cox says.

From a practical standpoint, he says students who start at ECC will save money and have more flexibility in their schedules.

“Students can certainly save money by coming here for the first two years,” he says. “But in addition, we have the flexibility to work with students who have varying work schedules. Four-year schools tend to be a bit more rigid in their schedules.”

The agreement between the two institutions spells out what classes transfer to Barton, including various English and math classes and other general education courses.

By starting at 91ӣ����Ƶ, students can earn an associate degree in Criminal Justice Technology and then transfer to Barton to earn a bachelor’s degree in Justice Administration.

“If students want to continue their education, we have a direct link to an online program at Barton. In the end, students can walk out with two high quality degrees. That’s a win-win,” Cox says.

Cox was on the faculty at Nash Community College and then East Carolina University before joining Edgecombe this year. Over time, he has developed key contacts in local higher education, such as Greg Bauer, dean of new learning at Barton College.

Cox, Bauer, and David Abeling-Judge, assistant professor of criminology and criminal justice sciences and director of the justice administration online program at Barton, met over the summer to hash out details of the transfer agreement, which was officially signed in October.

“Even though it took awhile, it was a seamless process,” Cox notes. “When the agreement was finalized, I sent an email to our students. Several emailed back that they are interested, so we’re looking forward to seeing where this program goes.”

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In an effort to help students and their families recover from the pandemic, 91ӣ����Ƶ has created a new scholarship program called the Edgecombe Pledge. This unique initiative will fund in-state tuition and fees for all qualifying students who enroll beginning in the Fall 2021 semester and extending through the Spring 2023 semester.

This is a last-dollar program, which means that it will pay for tuition and fees after all other sources of funding are exhausted. Funds to be used first are available from Federal Pell Grants, the North Carolina Longleaf Commitment Grant, additional federal and state programs, Golden LEAF Foundation, State Employees Credit Union, and other private sources for scholarships, such as those offered by the 91ӣ����Ƶ Foundation.

The Edgecombe Pledge will be available to both degree-seeking students and continuing education students who qualify.

“We are so excited about this initiative and hope it provides the assistance and encouragement for everyone who is interested in or needs to pursue an educational or workforce training credential,” says ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod.

Students who are seeking degrees must be North Carolina residents, they must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually, and they must complete an ECC application for admission. In addition, students must be enrolled in a degree program that is approved for financial aid and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

The Edgecombe Pledge is for all degree-seeking students, full time and part time. Part-time students who take just one class are eligible to receive free tuition and fees.

Continuing education students who are North Carolina residents and are enrolled in short-term workforce training programs leading to a state- or industry-recognized credential also qualify for the Edgecombe Pledge.

Approved continuing education programs are a minimum of 96 contact hours and include Advanced Manufacturing Academy (RAMP East), Basic Law Enforcement Training, Construction Academy, EMT Basic and Advanced, Facility Maintenance, HVAC, Mammography, Nail Technology, Natural Hair Care, Nurse Aide I and II, Paramedic, Phlebotomy, Solar Construction Academy, and Welding.

In order to receive the Edgecombe Pledge, continuing education students must complete the continuing education application and the continuing education scholarship application.

“The College is deeply grateful for federal and state dollars that have been made available to support this effort,” Dr. McLeod adds. “Our sincere hope is that students and their families, bolstered by this additional assistance, will be better prepared to move forward out of the pandemic and emerge stronger for the future.”

To learn more about the Edgecombe Pledge, degree-seeking students should email admissions@edgecombe.edu, or call or text (252) 618-6526. Students interested in continuing education programs should contact continuinged@edgecombe.edu or (252) 618-6605.

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“Our teaching and learning strategy had to convert to fully online very quickly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mediasite certainly helped with that transition,” said Arnold Worsley, distance learning technical administrator at 91ӣ����Ƶ.

Mediasite today announced that 91ӣ����Ƶ has selected Mediasite to create video lectures that students can watch online for the next school year.

The College is a member of the North Carolina Research and Education Network (NCREN) run by MCNC, a Mediasite partner. Through this partnership, all schools in the state from grades K-20 have access to cost-effective technology and services like Mediasite to start or expand their digital learning initiatives – especially vital now in a COVID world. The partnership has enabled more than 20 North Carolina institutions to bring this powerful technology to students and instructors.

“Our teaching and learning strategy had to convert to fully online very quickly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mediasite certainly helped with that transition. Being able to deploy Mediasite cost effectively through MCNC gave our College and faculty a simple way to record lectures from home,” said Arnold Worsley, distance learning technical administrator at ECC.

He continued, “Our Mediasite usage is still in the beginning phases, but we are seeing strong faculty adoption. We are expecting more growth this fall when we will likely use a hybrid learning model with some students in the classroom and others watching from home.”

All of the videos created automatically go into the College’s Moodle learning management system through a seamless integration with Mediasite. Francine Long, a math instructor at the College and one of the biggest Mediasite users on campus, was fully prepared to take her classes completely online.

“Mediasite makes capturing video lectures easy during this uncertain time. I create videos daily to prepare my students for the online classroom. It can be easy to be overwhelmed by classroom technology, but recording from home with Mediasite is very easy. I feel prepared to teach online classes this fall, and I encourage instructors who are hesitant to embrace video technology and start creating their own videos with solutions like Mediasite. It’s incredible what the power of video can do for your classrooms,” Long said.

“We are excited to partner with 91ӣ����Ƶ to help its faculty deliver hybrid learning during this uncertain time. Maximizing benefits from video is a critical piece of the puzzle schools need to solve right now as they navigate this new normal, and the College has positioned itself for success this fall and beyond. It has already seen tremendous growth in video usage during the few short months it’s been using Mediasite,” said Michael Norregaard, CEO, Sonic Foundry, maker of Mediasite. “We are proud to continue our long-standing relationship with MCNC to ensure quality access to video learning for all institutions.”

Mediasite is a highly-automated and integrated video platform that facilitates hybrid learning in this new digital-first world. Trusted by 1,700 schools in 65 countries, Mediasite quickly and cost-effectively scales the capture, management, delivery, and search of live and on-demand streaming videos. Mediasite’s solutions create the most engaging, data-rich and personalized learning experiences possible as students and instructors collaborate from a distance.

About Sonic Foundry^®, Inc.
Sonic Foundry (OTC: SOFO) is the global leader for video capture, management, and streaming solutions. Trusted by more than 5,200 educational institutions, corporations, health organizations, and government entities in over 65 countries, its Mediasite Video Platform quickly and cost-effectively automates the capture, management, delivery, and search of live and on-demand streaming videos. Learn more at and @mediasite.

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Dr. Greg McLeod (left), president of 91ӣ����Ƶ, and Dr. Art Rouse, interim dean of the East Carolina University College of Education, celebrate Partnership Teach after signing the agreement.

91ӣ����Ƶ was among the North Carolina colleges that recently celebrated the rebrand of a teacher education program that unites East Carolina University and 23 institutions of higher education.

On December 4, Partnership Teach was officially unveiled as the new name for the ECU College of Education’s online degree completion model. In the program, formerly known as Partnership East, students take courses at an NC community college and then transfer to ECU to complete a teaching degree.

“The name Partnership East reflected the original footprint which was only in eastern NC. We continue to focus our efforts in the east, but over the years, we have expanded our online opportunities to all 100 counties,” says Kathy Bradley, Partnership Teach coordinator.

“With this being the last year we receive funding from the SECU Foundation, it was a good time to embrace the name change to Partnership Teach which better reflects our mission of growing teachers through partnership.”

During the meeting, representatives from the 23 community and two-year colleges that compose Partnership Teach resigned their agreements with ECU. Public school systems that are members of the Latham Clinical Schools Network also reaffirmed their commitments.

“Since 2003, 91ӣ����Ƶ has been fortunate to partner with East Carolina University on this important teacher education initiative,” says ECC President Dr. Greg McLeod, who attended the signing ceremony in Greenville.

“Over the years, 19 Partnership Teach graduates completed coursework at ECC before transferring to ECU. This program is a shining example of both institutions’ commitment to outreach programs that make a genuine difference in people’s lives,” he says.

“These kinds of partnerships are integral to our work that we do together to prepare educators,” says Dr. Art Rouse, interim dean of the ECU College of Education. “Our college is committed to access, and we could not be accessible to prospective educators without the community college connections and collaborations with our Partnership Teach.”

Agreements with public schools and community colleges help to fulfill ECU’s dedication to eastern North Carolina. “There’s no better strategy for the future of our region than homegrowing talent,” ECU Interim Chancellor Dr. Ron Mitchelson says. “These local pipelines result in a huge level of success for our region and our students.”

Almost 900 students have graduated from the Partnership Teach degree completion model.

“Many of our students are nontraditional and have experience as teacher assistants,” Bradley adds. “They bring a more seasoned perspective to the discussions in the online classes.”

Partnership Teach comprises Louisburg College and the following community colleges: Beaufort, Carteret, Central Carolina, Coastal Carolina, College of the Albemarle, Craven, Edgecombe, Fayetteville Technical, Halifax, James Sprunt, Johnston, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, Pamlico, Pitt, Roanoke-Chowan, Sampson, Vance-Granville, Wake Technical, Wayne, and Wilson.

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