SANFORD - Central Carolina Community College (CCCC) is one of only 10 community colleges named by the Bellwether College Consortium (BCC) as finalists in the Instructional Programs and Services category of the Bellwether Awards, which recognize programs and services that foster or support teaching and learning in the community college.

CCCC is among a list of 30 community colleges total selected as 2020 finalists for the highly coveted Bellwether Awards, according to an announcement from the BCC, which includes two other categories - the Planning, Governance and Finance category, and the Workforce Development category.

CCCC President Dr. Lisa M. Chapman said, "Effectively helping our students achieve their career goals involves strong partnerships between students and their advisors that are forged early in the students' education and that include consistent, intentional conversations. CCCC sees this shared responsibility among the advisors and students as critical to student success and we are pleased to share what we've learned and to showcase our approach with our national partners."

Bellwether Finalists represent leading institutions of higher education whose outstanding and innovative programs and practices in community college education were selected among competitive submissions as exemplary and will undergo a rigorous second and final round of rigorous peer review at the 2020 Community College Futures Assembly in February, according to the Bellwether College Consortium announcement.

"At CCCC, we approach academic advising as a teaching and learning process," said Dr. Brian S. Merritt, CCCC Vice President of Learning & Workforce Development/Chief Academic Officer. "We are excited to attend the Community College Futures Assembly in February to share our story about how we transformed our admission and advising processes into a more personalized approach that enables new students to make efficient, effective, and timely choices to complete their educational and career goals."

To see a brief video describing CCCC's project nomination for the Bellwether Award, visit https://youtu.be/YRZuiLKMbiU.

The Bellwether College Consortium is a group of colleges charged with addressing the critical issues facing community colleges through applicable research and the promotion and replication of best practices addressing workforce development, instructional programs and services, and planning governance and finance. The Bellwether Award is proudly sponsored by the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, Texas.

Central Carolina Community College offers a wide variety of programs at its three campus locations and multiple instructional locations throughout Chatham, Harnett, and Lee counties.

Within these programs, students can earn associate degrees or college transfer credits, diplomas, or certificates. Some programs are offered entirely, or in part, via online distance education. In addition, CCCC offers courses in such areas as short-term job training, college and career readiness, personal interests, business and industry, and emergency services training. CCCC was recently ranked first in Niche's 2020 best community colleges in North Carolina rankings.

To learn more about Central Carolina Community College, visit www.cccc.edu.