Cape Fear Community College is excited about our region’s growth and the opportunities that are being created for our students and graduates. So many people are enjoying wonderful careers and we are so pleased to see our graduates attain their career goals. 

We realize that even in this strong economy, not everyone has achieved their “dream job.” Many of us know the experience of going to work each day and feeling as if something is missing. We encourage people who are looking for something more to explore what CFCC has to offer. A short-term investment in a great training program can lead to a higher-paying, more rewarding career. CFCC designs our Career and Technical Education programs to help students get great jobs.  If you're ready for a career change, CFCC can help.

Mark Council, CFCC’s Dean of Career and Technical Education, talks about how CFCC can help people attain their career goals.

Mark Council
Employers often call me looking for CFCC graduates to hire. They know that Cape Fear Community College’s Career and Technical Education programs are producing graduates who have learned the right skills to move seamlessly into the workforce. We design our programs to train students so that the skills they gain here will get them a job when they graduate. It is fulfilling to see our graduates go to work and make a better life for themselves and their families.

The College’s relationship with industry professionals allows us to listen and respond to the needs of the economy and gaps in the workforce. This is how we begin to implement new courses and programs. Each program has an Advisory Board made up of professionals in the field; we draw from their knowledge and expertise to help us develop and advance our curricula and ultimately, to plan programs for emerging career opportunities. Employers tell us what skills they need from new hires, and we make sure our students have those skills when they leave. What’s more, some Advisory Board members offer CFCC students internships that may lead to future employment.

Helping students achieve a dream of financial independence and upward mobility in the community is one of the College’s main goals. Our instructors work tirelessly to equip our students with what they need to take the next step. We want our graduates to live and thrive in the area, and to contribute to the development of our community.

CFCC has a number of programs whose graduates are in high demand locally. We strive to fill those classes because successful students should have an easy time finding a great job upon graduation. Mechatronics, Plumbing, Construction Management, Computer Integrated Machining, and Truck Driver Training are all programs where students are actively recruited. If students do well in these programs, their chances of immediate employment are high. Programs like Criminal Justice and Paralegal Technology also produce graduates who are in demand in the area, and graduates from our Health Science trade programs are always highly sought after by employers.

The local economy is booming right now, and even though most people have jobs, this is an ideal time to train for the next step. Acquiring new skills enables people to gain a competitive edge, to land a promotion, and to earn more money.

That’s why CFCC continually adds certificate programs to help working adults advance their careers. For instance, if an Information Technology professional needs to update their skills for a promotion, they could earn a certificate in Information Systems Security or Computer Forensics at CFCC. Qualifications for tech jobs, like those is many other industries, change rapidly, so it is important for people in those sectors to keep learning so they can remain marketable.

CFCC also offers many online options for people already in the workforce. Obviously, skilled trades require a lot of hands-on work initially, but for those looking to enhance their qualifications, there are online options available to meet the needs and time constraints of working professionals. We have created programs like these to assist people no matter where they are in their careers.

Cape Fear Community College knows the purpose of college is for students to obtain a career, or a better one, when they graduate. Here, students can receive a great education that will help them attain a rewarding career with little to no college debt. We are privileged to help our students succeed and to watch them build and enhance our community.

Jim Morton became President of Cape Fear Community College in April 2018. Prior to becoming President, Mr. Morton served as Executive Vice President and as Vice President of Business and Financial Services at CFCC. Cape Fear Community College is the 6th largest community college of the 58 community colleges in the North Carolina Community College System.