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UNCW/3C Collaborative

UNCW/3C Collaborative

The UNCW Community College Collaborative (UNCW/3C) is a university-community college partnership initiative created to develop strong future leaders for North Carolina’s community colleges and strengthen higher education offerings in the state.

The Collaborative supports partnerships and initiatives in three key areas:

  • Graduate-level programs for aspiring community college leaders
  • Professional development opportunities for current and aspiring leaders
  • Strengthening college and career pathways for students
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58

Number of Community Colleges in NC

3rd

Largest Community College System in the Country

575,000

Number of Students Enrolled in Community College Programs in NC

UNCW/3C Partnerships & Programs

3 girls walking outside Leadership Programs Two graduate programs are offered for aspiring community college leaders: a 12 credit-hour post-baccalaureate certificate and an Ed.D. with a specialization in community college leadership. Explore Offerings
Coloring the landscape, pathways for educators of color Annual Conference UNCW/3C ‘s annual Challenging the Paradigm Conference brings together higher education leaders from across the state for presentations and panel discussions focused on best practices and future trends in education. Learn More
circle of hands with puzzle pieces Collaborative Partnerships UNCW/3C members work collaboratively to create professional development opportunities for aspiring community college leaders and to strengthen transfer pathways for students throughout the state. Join the Flock

PRIORITY PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Community College Leadership, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate This 12-credit hour program, designed for community college administrators and faculty members, is offered by the Department of Educational Leadership at UNCW's Watson College of Education. Courses focus on teaching and learning at community colleges and provide an overview of the mission, functions and diversity among community college leadership. Organizational management, including policy and budgeting, is also covered and applied learning opportunities are offered through UNCW/3C. CCL Certificate Program
Educational Leadership (Community College Leadership), Ed.D. In fall 2024, WCE introduced a new specialization in the doctoral program in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on Community College Leadership. The program recognizes the unique opportunities and challenges community colleges face as they seek to create career pathways for diverse learners, and provides an in-depth study of the organization, administration, staffing, funding and student experience at North Carolina's two-year postsecondary institutions. The program is designed for working professionals and offered in a cohort model. Ed.D. Program
Aspiring Leaders Summits UNCW partners with individual community colleges to plan and facilitate Aspiring Leaders Summits. At the two-day professional development events, Critical Appreciative Inquiry is used as a framework to explore topics including budgeting, conflict resolution, diversity-equity & inclusion, SACSCOC, ethics, leadership and the staff to administrative transition. Since 2019, Summits have been held in partnership with 10 community colleges, offering future leaders an opportunity to grow their knowledge and hone their leadership skills. Collaborative Partnerships
Challenging the Paradigm Conference Since 2020, UNCW/3C has held an annual Challenging the Paradigm Conference. The conference brings together higher education leaders from across the state for a full-day event focused on best practices and future trends in education. Highlights include keynote speakers, presentations and panel discussions focused on themes such as partnerships, purposeful pathways and overcoming barriers to student success. Challenging the Paradigm Conference
CCURE Program UNCW's Community College Undergraduate Research Experience (CCURE) program provides unique research opportunities for undergraduate students planning to transfer to a 4-year institution. CCURE also provides applied learning opportunities for graduate students in WCE's CCL program. First introduced in 2021 in partnership with Cape Fear, Craven, and Lenoir Community Colleges, CCURE has grown to include 12 community college partners that host CCURE sections each year. CCURE Program

PARTNERSHIPS & AFFILIATED PROGRAMS

A key goal of UNCW/3C is to enhance educational opportunities in the state by working together with community colleges to strengthen college and career pathways for traditional students and adult learners who begin their post-secondary studies in community colleges. We also offer programs for professionals who aspire to teach at the community college level.

AFFILIATED PROGRAMS

UNCW's Watson College of Education offers degree and licensure programs for future teachers at all grade levels from Pre-k through high school, with many specializations to choose from. More than 50 percent of the students enrolled in our undergraduate programs transfer to UNCW from a NC community college. UNCW works closely with community college partners to strengthen pathways for future teachers through the university's guaranteed admission program, articulation agreements and collaborative work within UNCW/3C.

Undergraduate Programs for Aspiring Teachers

WCE offers a Workforce Learning & Development B.S. for aspiring community college CTE instructors, military service members and mid-career professionals in the skilled trades. The program provides a pathway for degree completers and complements Workforce Continuing Education programs offered by community college partners.

WLD Program Page

WCE offers a graduate-level certificate program for early childhood professionals who would like to teach at the community college level. Candidates will complete 18 credit hours of graduate level courses, which are offered online to accommodate working professionals. Successful completion of courses will meet the requirement of teaching faculty in the Early Childhood Education program at North Carolina community colleges and prepare participants to effectively share their knowledge with others in early childhood programs.

Community College Teaching in Early Childhood

UNCW's Watson College of Education also offers a graduate-level certificate program in College Teaching and Learning. The 12 credit-hour program is designed for graduate students (from any discipline), community college instructors, adjunct, and full-time faculty at four-year institutions. Grounded in the latest educational research of best practices in college teaching, the program provides participants with the skills and knowledge to create engaging post-secondary learning environments.

College Teaching & Learning

UNCW’s Watson College of Education offers a graduate-level certificate program in Coaching and Mentoring. The 12 credit-hour program is designed to help professionals in any field develop the skills needed to effectively coach and mentor others. Through courses and a field internship, participants will learn the principals of mentoring and coaching, how to apply various techniques and strategies, and how to develop, implement and assess the effectiveness of a coaching or mentoring program.

Coaching & Mentoring

The Professional Development System at UNCW’s Watson College of Education is a school-university partnership with 11 school districts and more than 2,000 teachers. PDS gives students classroom experience and supports the needs of teachers, schools and districts in the region. The nationally-recognized PDS partnership shares UNCW/3C’s goals of enhancing learning opportunities and strengthening pathways for students as they advance from pre-kindergarten through high school and transition to post-secondary education.

STRONGER TOGETHER

Forty percent of first time undergraduates begin postsecondary studies in community colleges. Community colleges also serve individuals pursing a certificate, diploma or associate curriculum to gain technical or workforce development skills at any stage of their career.

UNCW/3C is committed to creating authentic partnerships with community colleges in the state of North Carolina that are innovative and dynamic for our collective future. With a collaborative approach and a focus on graduate-level programs for aspiring community college leaders, professional development opportunities for current and aspiring leaders, and initiatives designed to strengthen college and career pathways, UNCW/3C is dedicated to serving the evolving needs of a large and diverse population of students in our state.

Advisory Council

Since UNCW/3C’s inception in 2019, an advisory council was designated as a direct means to strengthen our collaboration and to contribute collectively to the Great 58, our communities and counties. Leadership from the advisory council helps to grow our relationships with regional community colleges and to provide important guidance and advice on our initiatives and programming.

The current UNCW/3C Advisory Council is comprised of 15 members representing community college presidents, chief academic officers, students, UNCW faculty from the higher education graduate programs, the Dean of the Watson College of Education, the Director of the UNCW/3C Collaborative, county commissioners and others.

Program Coordinator

Dr. Denise Henning
henningd@uncw.edu 
910.859.4889

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