From the President

The spirit of perseverance underscored every initiative Cape Fear Community College launched during the 2020-21 year. We invested in our faculty and staff, with professional development opportunities that helped faculty adjust to the online instruction and support of remote learners. We leveraged federal funding to purchase laptops and software and created ways for students to connect with services virtually. We listened to our students and employees and reacted quickly to help everyone succeed. We distributed federal and state aid to students to help them continue their studies. Our efforts resulted in better, more technologically advanced tools for our students and employees, tremendous professional growth for our faculty and staff, and continued success for all.

On behalf of everyone at Cape Fear Community College, I want to thank you for your continued support. The past year has reminded us of the value of family, friendship, and hope. We are thankful for the hard work of our faculty and staff, for the support of our donors, and for the feeling of community that has been so present throughout the past few years. Your investment in our students and in their steadfast determination has made an enormous impact. Because of you, our students have studied without added financial pressure, found careers that will propel their families into financial security, and above all, persevered through an extremely challenging period in their lives. I hope this report will fill you with a sense of pride and connection to the accomplishments of Cape Fear Community College and our students.

Our 2020-21 academic year began unusually, with a virtual in-service event. Much of our 2020-21 year occurred similarly. From instructors who completely restructured their classes for online delivery to students who adapted to working online to keep their studies on track, our Sea Devil family pivoted quickly and persevered. We worked together, moved forward, and achieved incredible results during an exceptionally taxing year. Our students were engaged and worked from home or their cars or anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Our faculty and staff supported students every step of the way while they, too, were juggling additional family responsibilities.

In June, we received the largest grant award in CFCC’s history, a nearly $4 million Department of Labor grant. The grant funding will be used for the Pathway Home Project, a program designed to provide educational services for area prisoners and those recently released from incarceration. We pursued this funding opportunity with the support of several community partners: LINC, the Cape Fear Workforce Development Board/NC Works, and area employers including T.A. Woods, Premier Electrical Staffing, and David Porter Trucking. We are thrilled to have received this grant and begin this community effort to create pathways to productive citizenship for justice-involved individuals.

The 2020-21 year was our best fundraising year to date. It’s humbling to know that even amid worldwide hardship, our community believes in what we do at CFCC and contributes funds that will assist students from all walks of life. The assistance we receive from our community helps us know that we are moving in the right direction - meeting the needs of our students and local employers.

Our enrollment numbers continue to be strong, our students are performing well, and our faculty and staff continue to find ingenious ways to inspire students and create engaging content. We are focused on enriching the lives of everyone in New Hanover and Pender counties. With your help, we will continue to succeed.

I am so proud of what we accomplished this year, and I am inspired by the many possibilities that lie ahead.

Sincerely,

Jim Morton, CFCC President

Cape Fear Community College’s Wilmington Campus finds inspiration from the past. This student pathway reflects the train track that once inhabited the space.