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Parents in Alamance County have a new opportunity to further their education at Alamance Community College (ACC). The Parent Promise program at ACC offers parents and guardians of students in the Career and College Promise (CCP) program the opportunity to take one free class per semester.
Career and College Promise is a dual enrollment initiative in North Carolina that allows eligible students the opportunity to take college courses tuition free while still in high school.
“Most parents I’ve interacted with have this same feeling that they have sacrificed a lot to give opportunities to their kids,” said Ken Ingle, president of ACC. “The hope [for the program] is to make a little bit of an investment back to the parents…it’s really about increasing access and availability and opportunity for adult students to reengage in a little bit of a different way.”
Engaging adult learners
The launch of this program is timely, as the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS) has focused on engaging more adult learners in recent years. A main goal of the system’s efforts is that adult learners will earn more degrees, certificates, and credentials to equip them for employment in a consistently evolving workforce. Adult learners make up 40% of higher education students and 55% of enrolled students in the NCCCS, according to a January press release from the system.
ACC hopes that the Parent Promise program will engage more parents in higher education. Adult learners are often juggling many responsibilities on top of school, and that is true for parents as well. Working, raising kids, and the cost of higher education can be obstacles for parents wanting to go back to school. The Parent Promise program eliminates some of that cost burden. Offering one free class a semester and a voucher for books, more parents can access higher education without worrying about the price.
According to ACC’s website, key features of the Parent Promise program include:
- Flexible learning options: Courses are available online, in-person, or in a hybrid format to accommodate different schedules.
- Expert instructors: Faculty members provide mentorship and practical insights, bridging theory with real-world skills.
- Shared educational experience: Parents can grow academically alongside their children, strengthening family educational bonds.
- Access to resources: Participants have full access to ACC’s student support services, including libraries, tutoring, and career advising.
ACC rolled out the Parent Promise program for students enrolling in late start classes for the semester, which began in March. Sarah Hardin, the associate vice president of communications and public affairs, shared the following about the program:
- A significant percentage of inquiries have come from single parents striving to provide a better future for their children.
- Many respondents expressed that they have always wanted to return to school but were deterred by cost.
- Several applicants are working parents looking to upskill and secure higher-paying jobs.
- Others are first-generation college students eager to set an example for their children.
- 44 individuals have inquired about the Parent Promise program, and five parents are currently enrolled.
“There hasn’t really been a trend into what particular course they’re interested in so far. Many have been interested in our workforce development courses. A few have been interested in the curriculum courses, but most of the inquiries are for future terms. We have specialists working in admissions and financial aid to provide some support services to these prospects to hopefully get them enrolled for the future terms,” said Elizabeth Brehler, the associate vice president of student services at ACC.
Spreading the word
Community colleges have many programs for students, and Alamance Community College is no exception. One of the key factors for a new program’s success is making sure people know about it. For marketing the Parent Promise program, ACC is using a multilayered approach. They have a website dedicated to the program to establish a digital presence, are spreading the word at events, and partnering with local high schools that have CCP students.
“We’ve been talking about it with our school partners, so that they’re aware of it, so the students in the actual high schools can be aware of it and pass that information on to their parents,” said Ingle.
As far as outcomes are concerned, Ingle is hoping two things happen. One, that more high school students take CCP classes, and two, that more parents utilize the opportunities the program offers.
“We know that education is not a linear process. It’s not a start, finish process. …It’s really, I think, as much as anything about getting that awareness for a population of students that may have thought their time had passed and us being able to say, ‘No, your time hasn’t passed. We’re still here. We’re still able to serve. We’re still ready to help,’ and giving them a chance to plug in,” said Ingle.
