Student Success
College Joins Effort to 'Boost' Student Success
Innovative Statewide Initiative Designed to Train N.C. Workforce
RALEIGH, N.C. (February 5, 2025) - Wake Tech is excited to announce its participation in the North Carolina Community College System's Boost program, a new workforce development initiative designed to help students complete their degrees sooner.
Wake Tech is one of 15 North Carolina community colleges joining the innovative program that centers on accelerating student progress through college and into high-wage, in-demand careers in the workforce.
The program is being launched with a historic grant of $35.6 million from Arnold Ventures, marking the largest private investment ever received by the community college system. Modeled after the City University of New York's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs, the Boost program has already proven successful in other states, where it has doubled graduation rates and reduced the time to degree completion.
"The Boost program provides Wake Tech the opportunity to replicate a best-in-the-country student support model, helping students succeed in completing their degrees faster and gaining the skills they need for high-demand careers," said Brian Gann, Wake Tech vice president of Enrollment and Student Services. "This will enhance our Reach and Rally strategic plan work of advancing economic mobility for our students and will be a great addition to our Care Team advising and student support model."
The Boost program works through a combination of timely and relevant supports, dedicated advising for students and incentives to accelerate their education. In 2023-24, Wake Tech experienced the highest student retention rate in the college's history, due in part to the implementation of Care Teams, which offer degree students coordinated advising, student success coaching and career guidance across 13 career fields.
To receive the benefits of the Boost program, participating students must meet certain eligibility criteria, be in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) career pathway and meet regular program benchmarks.
"This program has increased graduation rates, reduced time to graduation and lowered the cost per graduate across many individual colleges in several states,” said N.C. Community College System President Dr. Jeff Cox. "Here in North Carolina, we have every reason to expect similar results. What makes this especially exciting is the opportunity to demonstrate success through our pilot and then scale it statewide — something few other states have done. We are fully committed to transparency and will track and report the program's results regularly, ensuring policymakers can clearly see the return on investment. This is an exciting day for North Carolina businesses, companies looking to relocate to a state dedicated to world-class workforce development and the citizens of North Carolina. We expect the North Carolina Community College System Boost program to make a significant, positive contribution to our state's economic future."
