Avanza
Overview
The Belk Center partnered with The Hunt Institute and LatinxEd to co-host the first convening of Avanza, Spanish for “to advance, progress, and/or move forward.” This year-long community of practice provides community college leaders with a space to discuss best practices and barriers to student success to better recruit, support, and retain students as they work to complete a postsecondary degree or credential.
The following institutions were invited to participate in the inaugural Avanza cohort based on their designation* as a HSI, emerging HSI, and overall commitment to student success.
- Alamance Community College
- Blue Ridge Community College
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- James Sprunt Community College
- Pitt Community College
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- Sampson Community College
- Wake Technical Community College
- Wayne Community College
- Wilkes Community College
Program Objectives
To support institutions in developing a framework for success tailored to their current practices and needs, this collaborative partnership aimed to:
- Establish a learning community to share best practices related to recruiting, serving, and graduating students at North Carolina community colleges, through the introduction of relevant student support frameworks.
- Provide technical support to institutional leaders at participating institutions.
- Inform institutional leaders on federal and state policies to leverage existing funding streams, resources, and networks.
- Inform institutional leaders on data analysis, including but not limited to data on student and community populations, individuals and organizations providing social capital within the community.
Over the course of the year-long program, participating leaders have received technical assistance and policy support through various gatherings and workshops.
Looking Forward
In March 2024, The The Hunt Institute, LatinxEd, and the Belk Center convened to host the second Avanza cohort.
