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Dr. Janet Spriggs, president of Forsyth Technical Community College, is calling on adults across the region to reconnect with the college as a first step to gain the skills they need to secure the jobs they want.

The Better Skills. Better Jobs. campaign is part of a project first launched in 2021 with five North Carolina community colleges to proactively contact and attract more adults back to college. The effort is expanding to five additional colleges in 2022, the second year of the initiative.

“After a couple of years with challenges like no other, we know many adults are reexamining their work situations and area employers are searching for skilled talent,” Spriggs said. “That’s why we are making an extra push this summer and fall to connect adults to a variety of fast, flexible and affordable programs at Forsyth Tech. These programs prepare our students to meet the demands of open jobs in our communities.”

“From information technology and software development to diesel and heavy equipment repair, from business administration to nursing and MRI technologies, and many more, our courses offer a direct pipeline to many of our region’s top employers,” Spriggs said.

Prospective students are encouraged to visit forsythtech.edu, or attend one of Forsyth Tech’s special upcoming events to quickly connect with the college and explore all of the opportunities offered that can lead to better skills, a better job, a bigger paycheck and an even brighter future.

The campaign to connect with adult learners will include direct outreach and support to reconnect with adults in the area who previously earned some college credits, but left without completing a degree or certification; special events and presentations on campus and in the community to showcase the college’s many programs and opportunities; and a robust digital marketing and advertising campaign designed to reach and connect with more adult learners. It is funded by the John M. Belk Endowment, other key partners in the initiative include myFutureNC, the North Carolina Community College System, the Belk Center for Community College Research and Leadership at North Carolina State University and many others.

Forsyth Technical Community College has been serving the citizens of Forsyth and Stokes counties since 1960, offering two-year associate’s degree programs, vocational instruction and training in skilled trades, corporate training, college transfer programs, continuing education, personal enrichment classes and more.

“The John M. Belk Endowment is pleased to partner with Forsyth Technical Community College and these outstanding community college leaders to catalyze and supercharge their efforts to recruit and support adult students,” said M.C. Belk Pilon, president and board chair of the John M. Belk Endowment.

“We know that many North Carolinians are looking for new challenges or a fresh start, and we believe our community colleges are a great place for their journey to begin. Our goal is for all residents of our state to have access to an education that will lead to skills, credentials, and degrees, and ultimately the opportunities to achieve their dreams and to help meet the workforce needs across our state.”

“At myFutureNC, we are dedicated to ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians between the ages of 25-44 have a high-quality credential or a postsecondary degree by the year 2030. The vast majority of higher-wage jobs today require more than a high school diploma, but that is something that less than half of North Carolinians in this age range currently have,” said Cecilia Holden, president and CEO of myFutureNC. “Better skills lead to better jobs and to a stronger and more economically vibrant North Carolina. We are very pleased to be partnering on this important initiative.”

For more information about Forsyth Technical Community College’s Better Skills. Better Jobs. initiative, go to forsythtech.edu.