Elizabeth City, N.C. — For hundreds of adults across northeastern North Carolina, the path to college or career training may soon become easier to navigate.
Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) has been awarded a five-year, $1.2 million federal TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers grant from the U.S. Department of Education to expand college access and career opportunities for adults across seven northeastern North Carolina counties. ECSU will receive $238,000 annually over the five-year grant period, subject to continued federal funding and satisfactory program performance.
The grant will allow ECSU to establish an Educational Opportunity Centers program serving 850 adults annually in Beaufort, Chowan, Hyde, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Tyrrell and Washington counties.
The program will assist adults who want to begin or resume their education by providing free college-access and career-planning services. Emphasis will be placed on supporting individuals from low-income households, first-generation college students, veterans, unemployed and underemployed adults, and residents who face geographic, financial or informational barriers to pursuing postsecondary education.
“This significant federal investment affirms Elizabeth City State University’s longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunity and improving the quality of life throughout northeastern North Carolina,” said ECSU Chancellor S. Keith Hargrove, Sr. “Education can transform individuals, families and entire communities. Through the Educational Opportunity Centers program, ECSU will help adults identify pathways to education, strengthen their economic mobility, and achieve goals they may have once believed were beyond their reach.”
The award marks ECSU’s second renewal of the grant, representing 10 years of consistent support.
Rather than limiting services to campus, the program will reach residents throughout the seven-county service area through community-based outreach events, workshops, individual advising, school and agency partnerships, virtual programming and direct engagement.
“This grant will allow ECSU to bring critical educational resources directly into communities where residents may not have easy access to traditional college-access services,” said Kevin J. Wade, vice chancellor for Student Affairs. “Many adults want to continue their education but may be uncertain about where to begin, how to pay for college, or how to balance school with work and family responsibilities. Our Educational Opportunity Centers team will meet individuals where they are, help them navigate each step of the process, and remain connected as they move toward enrollment and completion.”
That community-based approach will include collaboration with high schools, community colleges, four-year institutions, workforce development agencies, faith-based organizations, local governments, libraries, veteran-serving organizations, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations and other community partners.
Each participant will receive an individualized educational service plan based on personal goals, academic preparation, career interests and identified barriers. Program staff will use proactive and appreciative advising practices to help participants complete essential enrollment milestones and successfully transition into postsecondary education.
The program’s goals include increasing secondary school completion, improving college and financial aid application rates, and helping more residents enroll in education or training programs that lead to meaningful careers and greater economic stability.
The effort is particularly significant in northeastern North Carolina, which includes many rural communities where residents experience limited access to postsecondary institutions, transportation challenges, healthcare shortages, higher unemployment and lower rates of educational attainment compared with state and national averages. The Educational Opportunity Centers program will help address those disparities by establishing a coordinated, community-based college-access network.
“ECSU was founded to provide educational opportunity and serve the people of this region,” Wade added. “This grant allows us to continue that mission beyond the boundaries of our campus and create pathways for adults who are ready to take the next step toward a stronger future.”
About the Federal TRIO Educational Opportunity Centers Program
The Educational Opportunity Centers program is one of the federal TRIO programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The program provides counseling and information about college admissions and financial aid options to qualified adults who want to enter or continue a program of postsecondary education. It also supports individuals seeking to complete their secondary education before enrolling in college or career training.
