Transformative teaching hubs boost faculty and student success across North Carolina community colleges, impacting nearly 75,000 students statewide 

North Carolina Teaching and Learning Hubs are making a significant mark as they approach their third anniversary – impacting nearly 75,000 community college students by investing in faculty professional learning.

The Hubs were established in 2021 through a collaboration between the North Carolina Community College System, the North Carolina Student Success Center, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, and Achieving the Dream. 

[The mission of the Hubs is to foster student success through faculty-led communities of practice grounded in research and tailored to the needs of North Carolina community college educators.] 

“What works well in the classroom leads to the greatest student outcomes,” said Dr. AJ Jaeger, Executive Director of the Belk Center. “We know that faculty who interact with their students, faculty that have collaborative learning, action learning, experiential learning, faculty that make resources available to their students – those classes have the greatest outcomes.” 

There are four Hubs in the state – East, West, Central, and Piedmont – that offer community college faculty opportunities to share evidence-based, easily adoptable classroom management techniques and teaching practices.

“We invite educators to join us in creating innovative learning spaces that empower students to excel in their educational journeys,” said Dr. Andrea Crowley, Executive Director of the North Carolina Student Success Center. “Our Hubs connect faculty to each other and provide a platform to exchange ideas on instructional strategies and approaches that build dynamic learning environments.”

A new study was released last month – “Statewide Professional Learning for Faculty and Student Success” – evaluating the first years of the Hubs, which found a strong connection between faculty professional learning and student success.

“We see an increased likelihood of persistence when a student takes a course from faculty member who has invested in their own professional growth,” Crowley said. “Our personal and professional development is modeling the very thing we want our students to demonstrate — be a lifelong learner, ask good questions, solve real problems. Our Hub programming creates the space for that.” 

From Fall 2021 through Spring 2023, more than 74,000 students enrolled in courses taught by faculty who participated in Hub professional learning.  

“The findings of this report further highlight the connection between the Teaching and Learning Hubs and student success – meaning that when more faculty are trained by a Hub, more students are benefitting,” says Dr. Monique Colclough, Director of Programs and Initiatives at the Belk Center. “The Hubs are improving student outcomes across North Carolina and we’re proud to support the faculty leaders advancing this change.” 

There is a particular need for Hubs to serve rural colleges, which lack the resources or capacity to support these efforts. 

“Not all of our faculty come to post-secondary institutions knowing exactly how to create their best learning environment. They come to us because they’re great professionals in their field, and they may not have the opportunity at every college to learn about professional instruction,” Jaeger said. “So, the Hub structure creates a network for professional learning.” 

A state level impact report for 2023-2024 is currently in development and will be announced later this year.  

“We anticipate the 2023-2024 academic year report will show significant growth in students served and further demonstrate that students enrolled in courses by faculty who engage in professional learning have a higher probability of persistence,” Crowley said.