North Carolina was an important stop on the national campaign because of the state’s position as a leader in providing need-based financial aid and increasing college enrollment rates for students from low-income backgrounds. North Carolina’s commitment to keeping college affordable has resulted in its status as one of the top 5 states with the lowest in-state tuition rates for two- and four-year institutions.

Speakers included:

• Lieutenant Governor Walter Dalton
• Gaston Caperton, President, The College Board
• Tom Apodaca, North Carolina State Senator
• June Atkinson, State Superintendent, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
• Steve Brooks, Executive Director, North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (moderator)
• Rick Glazier, North Carolina State Representative
• Shirley Ort, Associate Provost and Director, Scholarships and Student Aid (moderator)
• Scott Ralls, President, North Carolina Community College System
• Ray Rapp, North Carolina State Representative
• Tom Ross, President, University of North Carolina
•  Hope Williams, President, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities

Collaborating Organizations:

National Conference of State Legislatures
North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority

Quotes:

“In today’s world, the equipment for success is a good education. In North Carolina, we are fortunate to have a heritage of providing those opportunities. We founded the first public university in the United States of America. It is a great heritage that has reaped great benefits for our state and which also inspired the vision to create what is probably the best community college system in our nation. Even in the toughest times, North Carolina has stood tall for education. Now more than ever, we must protect these assets we’ve spent so long building up and keep our public higher education accessible and affordable.”  Lt. Governor Walter Dalton

“We know that North Carolina’s economic future hinges on our ability to get more of our young people better educated and equipped to compete for the jobs of tomorrow.  That’s why it is critically important that we maintain a long-term vision for higher education that extends beyond the current budget crisis.  North Carolina simply cannot afford to close the door to a University of North Carolina education for qualified students.  That will require that we continue to keep tuition on UNC campuses as low as possible and that we provide an adequate supply of need-based financial aid.”  Thomas W. Ross

“North Carolina Community Colleges have made student success and completion our strategic focus in a time when students are looking to us in historic numbers. We have experienced a 25 percent increase in enrollment over the past three years, and our ability to provide education and training, while breaking down barriers standing in the way of completion, is an economic imperative.” Scott Ralls

“College access and success are major priorities for the 36 independent colleges and universities in North Carolina and a part of the State’s career and college ready goal. This year, in addition to the critical state and federal grant aid made available to students, NCICU received $2.2 million for scholarships and access programs for our and campuses and students across the state.”  Hope Williams

North Carolina Highlights:

North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation in the percentage of high school graduates who attend college in their home state, and has moved from a below-average position nationally, ranking 37th in 2000, to a ranking of 21st in 2007, in college enrollment of low-income students.

North Carolina has increased access for low-income students in the last decade — with enrollment rising by almost 5 percent while nationally declining by 2 percent.

North Carolina utilizes an innovative centralized application processing whereby all applications go to a central place. Students indicate which participating institutions in the system they wish to be considered for, and those institutions receive the records. The institutions evaluate the records and then notify the students of the decision.