Belk Center Releases Second-Year Report for NC Teaching & Learning Hubs

In an ongoing effort to support professional learning at North Carolina community colleges, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research has once again partnered with evaluation and learning partner DVP-PRAXIS LTD on an assessment of second-year growth and success of the North Carolina Teaching and Learning Hubs. 

This new report builds upon the findings of an inaugural Hubs report – released in February 2023 – that documented the reach of Hubs to faculty, staff and students. 

The second-year evaluation, titled, “Evidence of Scale for a Statewide Teaching and Learning Model,” documents the growth of the Hubs, in terms of geographic reach, participation by faculty and staff, and the diversity of sessions and participants. The report also shares the emergent evidence on the relationship between faculty participation in professional learning and course success rates, as a preliminary investigation into the effect of Teaching and Learning Hubs on equitable student outcomes in North Carolina. 

To examine preliminary outcomes, the Belk Center team looked at faculty that participated in Hub professional learning sessions and whether participating in professional learning was related to improved course pass rates. The data agreement with partners at the 

North Carolina Community College System Office and DVP-PRAXIS, allowed the team to compare faculty course rates before, concurrent with, and after their participation in professional learning. 

Key takeaways:

• North Carolina’s statewide Teaching and Learning Hubs have grown substantially during the first two years of the initiative. 
• The number of individuals engaging in Hub-offered professional learning has nearly tripled, resulting in Hub-trained instructors teaching more than 8,500 courses and reaching more than 74,000 students – many of whom are low income, first-time, adult learners and students of color. 
• The average number of registrants per professional learning session, as well as the number of registrants who return for multiple sessions, is increasing, suggesting the increased number and variety of offerings is appealing. 
• Preliminary evidence points to the positive and statistically significant relationship between engagement in Hub-offered professional learning and increased course pass rates, on average. 

“The growth and reach of professional learning sessions indicates that the Teaching and Learning Hubs are successfully building capacity for professional learning opportunities and reaching instructors across the state,” said Monique Colclough, Ph.D., director of programs and initiatives. “This is incredibly valuable, as it illustrates the work that the Hub co-directors are leading with insight from their peer Professional Learning Leaders (PLL). Together, co-directors and PLLs are developing an organic community dedicated to advancing teaching practices intended to improve learning outcomes, persistence rates and credential attainment.”  

About the Belk Center

Creating tools, convening leaders, and catalyzing change: the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research works with educators, researchers, and policymakers to further more equitable community college outcomes in North Carolina and across the nation. We equip community college leaders with actionable insights and create opportunities for collaboration as we tackle the most pressing issues facing students and campuses to build stronger, more resilient communities. The Belk Center is housed in the College of Education at North Carolina State University, a land-grant university that shares our commitment to community colleges and the critical role these institutions play in creating and expanding opportunities for all North Carolinians.