Cape Fear Community College (CFCC) announced Wednesday it is participating in a state initiative "to accelerate students' progress through college and into the workforce, aligning with the state's economic development goals."

The program is set to serve students in specific programs at CFCC and other participating colleges across North Carolina. CFCC plans to begin enrolling students in Boost for the fall 2025 semester, according to a news release.

Brunswick Community College is not yet a participant, but surrounding community colleges that will also begin participating in 2025 and 2026 include Bladen Community College, Robeson Community College and Sampson Community College.

To receive the benefits of the Boost program, participating students must meet certain eligibility criteria, choose a program that leads to an in-demand career and meet regular program benchmarks, the release stated. Targeted fields for the program include biotechnology, health care, engineering and advanced manufacturing and information technology.

Jim Morton, CFCC president, stated in the release, “Through the Boost program, we are dedicated to providing students with the support and resources to complete their degrees more quickly, overcome challenges and build the skills required for high-demand careers that will strengthen our regional and state economies.” 

Modeled after the City University of New York's Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (CUNY ASAP), the Boost program has increased graduation rates, reduced the time to degree completion and lowered the cost per graduate across other colleges in several states, the release stated.

North Carolina Community College System president Jeff Cox stated in the release, “Here in North Carolina, we have every reason to expect similar results. What makes this especially exciting is the opportunity to demonstrate success through our pilot and then scale it statewide – something few other states have done. We are fully committed to transparency and will track and report the program's results regularly, ensuring policymakers can see the return on investment."

The NC Community Colleges Boost program is launching as a result of a $35.6 million grant from philanthropic entity Arnold Ventures, the release stated.