Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP)
Annual Report 2013-14
Eight years ago, we set out to start an innovative new program: C-STEP A message from the Vice Provost for Enrollment and Undergraduate Admissions When I joined the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, I learned that North Carolina community college students comprise about one-quarter of the Carolina transfer population. I also learned that, sadly, many of them struggle after transferring here. The reasons were as varied as the students themselves—whether financial, academic, or social and in many cases, a combination of all three—but I also knew that these hard-working students deserve the opportunity to join our community. And we need them. Their intellect, perseverance, and diverse viewpoints greatly enrich the Carolina community. In 2006, with the generosity of the Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Foundation, the University launched the Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP). The challenge was great but our mission was very simple—we knew that we needed to improve the ability of low-to-moderate income students from our state’s community colleges to enroll in and graduate from Carolina. We took a small but bold step and embarked on a partnership with three equally brave local community colleges: Alamance Community College, Wake Technical Community College and Durham Technical Community College. Together we rolled up our sleeves and built an innovative program that provides the kind of specialized advising these students lacked, both at their community college and while enrolled at Carolina. To our delight, this fledgling pilot program soared and today includes a total of nine partner schools. The inaugural C-STEP class comprised just six students but since then, the program has helped nearly 500 students achieve their dream of enrolling at Carolina. Our graduates are leading lives of distinction, and in many cases, service to their communities and the state of North Carolina. None of this success would have been possible without the support of the JKC Foundation, our donors, and of course, our growing list of partner schools who help sustain the program from day to day. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. While we are thrilled with our success so far, there are still many more deserving students in areas that we are not yet able to serve. With your continued support, however, I am confident that we will build upon our foundation to reach more students and help them build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities. Sincerely, Stephen Farmer
A message from the C-STEP Program Director When I first met prospective C-STEP student Roy Dawson, he was struggling with family debt and taking care of his gravely ill mother. But that did not deter him from aiming high. He set his sights on not just earning a four-year degree but one day becoming a quick-witted lawyer like the one played by Andy Griffith on Matlock. For Roy, who was introduced to C-STEP by a forward-thinking counselor at his community college, this program proved to be just that little nudge that he needed. Today this double Carolina alumnus (UNC ‘11 and UNC Law School ’13) has truly followed in the footsteps of his idol and is working as a lawyer in the coastal town of New Bern, N.C. “I have never met a harder working young man,” says his boss. Imagine the talent, passion, and ambition Roy brings to this world, and multiply it exponentially. This is the potential that these C-STEP students represent, and why I believe so ardently in this program. But we are not satisfied. There are many more such students out there, with their own unique hopes and dreams, but who, like Roy, just need that extra little nudge in the right direction. I hope you will take a moment to read our very first annual report, which provides a glimpse into the lives of several of these bright stars. I am sure you will find them as inspiring as I do. Sincerely, Rebecca Egbert
What is C-STEP? A program that fosters success by identifying talented low- to moderate- income students while they are still in high school or early in their community college careers. Selected students are guaranteed eventual admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill if they earn an appropriate associate degree and successfully complete the community college component of the C-STEP program. C-STEP students are offered mentorship and guidance while pursuing their degrees. By the time C-STEP students enroll as juniors at Carolina, they have forged connections with students, faculty and staff, earned an associate degree, shadowed a Carolina student, and conducted community service. This helps them thrive from day one on campus. So why support C-STEP? For many students, a community college education can open doors to opportunity, serving as a gateway to a four-year degree. Programs such as C-STEP have the potential to dramatically increase the enrollment numbers of transfer students from low- to moderate- socioeconomic backgrounds by encouraging talented community college students to apply, raising awareness of financial aid, and working to diminish cultural barriers. C-STEP not only creates opportunity and rewards student talent, it provides enduring benefits to the campus served.
81% Graduation rate for C-STEP students (between 2006-2011)
The C-STEP community, proudly serving N.C. since 2006.
Partner Schools Alamance Community College Cape Fear Community College Carteret Community College Central Carolina Community College
Craven Community College Durham Technical Community College Fayetteville Technical Community College Sandhills Community College Wake Technical Community College
The C-STEP Community: By the Numbers
468 students // 31 UNC Staff members 107 donors // 9 Community College Partners 19 Community College Partner staff
For many students, C-STEP provides the opportunity to follow their passions. Meet three inspiring C-STEP alumni, and see what we mean when we say that dreams really do come true.
After an injury ended his time with the U.S. Army, Brian Eglinger ‘14 went to work at a rehabilitation hospital doing everything from data entry to storage room inventory. Witnessing how speech therapy helped a young boy regain use of his mouth moved Brian to pursue higher education. He enrolled at Wake Technical Community College and, with the encouragement of his C-STEP coordinator and teachers, found his way to UNC. “I like the culture at UNC; I love the research opportunities,” he said. “I know I couldn’t have gotten this education anywhere else.” Today this C-STEP graduate is happily enrolled in medical school where he will build a life helping others.
palestine small, ‘13, knows what it’s like to endure hardship. After a childhood filled with neglect and abuse came an adulthood of addiction and instability. But she had higher aspirations, and managed to overcome her addictions and seek an education. She enrolled at Durham Technical Community College to study sociology. At Carolina, she joined the Buckley Public Service Scholars program, which allowed her to give back to others who face similar struggles. “I want to help those in need. I have been where they are and I know the way out.” After graduating from Carolina, Palestine intends to apply for divinity school and law school, combining the two fields to make a difference in the lives of young people within the juvenile justice system.
For Navid Nesab, ‘14, UNC represents not just any dream--it’s his American Dream come to life. Navid immigrated to the U.S. from Iran to pursue his education and follow his dream of becoming a dentist. He joined C-STEP and graduated from Durham Technical Community College with highest honors. The transition to Carolina wasn’t easy, especially with the high expectations the school sets for its scholars. But Navid found that the C-STEP program helped him adapt and supported him as a family. “I found it inspiring to see other students, who were coming from such different backgrounds, reach their goals with determination and dedication.” His positive experience led him to serve as a C-STEP Peer Mentor for three fellow C-STEP students. And we are happy to say Navid's Carolina journey continues -- he will attend UNC Dental School in the fall.
C-STEP: Turning dreams into reality Collaboration among high-achieving students, university professionals, and supporters across the state made this program into what it is: a unique
“C-STEP builds self-esteem, encourages team collaboration, and creates awareness about the need to give back.”
opportunity for talented, motivated students. And with an 81% graduation rate and average graduating G.P.A. of 3.0, these students are proving the program’s worth every year. We’ve seen what these students can do for our world — have you?
Mary Marsha Cupitt, C-STEP Counselor at Durham Technical Community College, is a big fan of the program. She loves how C-STEP provides an opportunity for students to see themselves in a new light: as a Carolina student. Other reasons to love the program? She rattles off the program's prestige, the tight knit community with common goals, and the inspiration students gain through their participation. One of Mary Marsha's favorite stories is about a young man who was drifting academically before he entered the program. Once he started C-STEP, he joined the Student Senate, produced two Honors projects, volunteered with low-income students, and took a position on campus assisting new students with their academic and social success at Durham Tech. “He was even asked to speak to the Durham Tech Board of Trustees," said Mary Marsha. "Today this student is excelling and I am most proud of him."
Where are C-STEP graduates? From conducting research on king cobra snakes to attending flight school to become a pilot, our C-STEP graduates are doing amazing things for their families, the state, and the world: UNC Hospital Nursing Units Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC-CH Global Fulbright Fellowships Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies IRS Criminal Investigations Division Teach for America U.S. Veterans Affairs Office U.S. Air Force UNC Dental, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Law Schools
Why support C-STEP? By 2018, almost 60% of the jobs in North Carolina will require a college degree. Currently, only 38% of all N.C. workingage adults hold a degree, which means a significant proportion of the state’s population is not prepared for the majority of available job opportunities. The C-STEP program creates opportunity and expands access to higher education across the state. Carolina believes in these students and needs you to show that you believe in them, too. Please contact Mary Melone, Major Gifts Officer at the Office of University Development, to make your gift. mary_melone@unc.edu // 919.962.4389
Katherine Watson Dorsch Denita L. Dowell Christian Shambley Fahnrich Scott and Kimberly Fanelly Laura Morgan Frankart Maria J. Fraser-Molina and Luis Anonymous Molina Will and Martha Aldridge Cooley Lawrence Gaffigan AT&T Foundation Albert and Carolyn Gard Timothy David Barco Gerard A. Gioia Tabetha Leigh Belcher Blake Small Griffin John Anderson Bell Jill Crawley Griset Anna Bickley Charles Jeffery Guard, Jr. Thomas H. Bishop Elizabeth Harris Guckian Michael Wilson Blackmon Paula Irene Martin Hall Susan Taylor Block P. Curtis Hardy M. Neal and Jennifer Burkhead Leon Herndon and Yolanda Manuel Salvador Campano Scarlett Michael Capobianchi Howard Holsenbeck Stephen and Jan Capps Josie Lauren Honaker Angela Lyn Carini Kelly Bryant Hrycay Rebecca Lynn Carle Margaret Burgin Hunt Sarah Alligood Chang Katherine Butler Jackson Louise and Steve Coggins Selena Shade Jiménez Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Benjamin Chadwick Johnson Danielle M. Cushing Carole Ferguson Johnson Kerry Cadman Davis Laura Grace Kim Jennifer Dixon Dawley Michelle Klemens and Joy Dayla Janea' Dawson Cranshaw Roy Arnold Dawson Lisa Beatty Klumok Stephen and Margaret Diab Nicole Lazaris Jordan Marie Dietrich
Many thanks to our supporters, without whom we could not serve our students:
Amy Mangual Leary Craig Thomas Ledwell Edward L. Lentz, Jr. Ellen Beate Lohr-Hinkel Blake Phillip Lozzi Christopher Joseph Maggiore Harry Patrick Marcelin Ashley Ann Mattheis Kathleen McCarthy Holly Thompson McGuigan Brian and Lyell McMerty Erwin Bellamy McMerty Foundation, Inc. Charles and Terri Meier Afrika Liles Mlingo Laura Perry Monk Moore Charitable Foundation Morgan Creek Foundation Brandon and Pearl Murphy Colin Bradley Mutter Melanie Breedlove Navarro Donna L. Nixon Angela J. Nolan Heidi Sink O'Neal David Chandler Pace, Jr. Edwin Milas Patterson III Elizabeth Kate Perry Paul Michael Petro Debra M. Phillips Caroline Mitchell Poteat W. Trent Ragland Jr. Foundation
Fairfax and Ann Reynolds Jordan Ruggles Ridgeway Tanner and Meghann Robinson Ana Isabel Salas Gay and Daniel Shackelford Harsh C. Shah Briana Nicole Shambley Donna Worthington Shiro Natan Siegel John and Louise Sloan Sarah Shackelford Smith Susan Diane Diamond Smith Meredith Lynn Snoddy Garry Van Spears III Susan G. Stern Anna C. Stull Ashley Lancaster Templer John Alexander Tomei Triad Foundation John M. Triplett Daniel Paul Verges Matthew and Rachel Wall Denise Marie Wallace Timothy Steven West Lori Davis Whitehead Jennifer Herrera Willis Daniel and Ann Wilson Robert Church Wilson IV Mary Scott Winstead Aimee Kathleen Wood Brian Franklin Woodard
Annual Budget We are proud of our commitment to students. Because of the generous support of UNC-Chapel Hill, the Triad Foundation, and donors near and far, we are able to say that 100% of C-STEP expenses fund programs: peer mentors, academic advising, partner institutions, orientation, career counseling, research, and more. When you support our program, every dollar supports the next generation of leaders. C-STEP Budget 2014-15 Projections 2013-14 Income $185,000 $290,405 UNC General Administration Strategic $0 $26,250 Directions (Non-Traditional) Fund Triad Foundation First Generation Gift $95,000 $95,000 C-STEP Gifts $45,000 $124,155 Undergraduate Admissions $45,000 $45,000 Expenses Salaries and benefits (Program Staff) Community College Partner Funding Events and Programs Travel and Printing Student Internship Stipends
$302,000 $160,000 $100,000 $30,000 $8,000 $4,000
$290,405 $155,595 $95,000 $27,225 $9,585 $3,000
“Investing in tomorrow’s leaders is one of the best things any individualor business entity — whether corporate, private or non-profit — can do to help assure success.”
—Brian mcmerty, donor
Be a part of C-STEP’s future. Join us.
Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program (C-STEP) Office of Undergraduate Admissions // UNC-Chapel Hill Campus Box 2200, Jackson Hall // Chapel Hill, NC 27599 919.966.3984 (t) // 919.962.3045 (f) // Annual Fund Designation 079112
admissions.unc.edu/CSTEP