How the Piedmont Teaching and Learning Hub is empowering North Carolina community college faculty
In the heart of North Carolina’s community colleges, lies the Piedmont Teaching and Learning Hub, a dynamic resource dedicated to fostering professional growth for faculty and staff across 11 affiliate colleges. Offering free professional learning opportunities, the Piedmont Hub is a beacon of collaboration and innovation, informed by the experiences of community college faculty and guided by professional learning leaders.
The Piedmont Hub is one of four Hubs across the state, which were established in 2021 through a collaboration between the NC Community College System, NC Student Success Center, the Belk Center for Community College Leadership and Research, and Achieving the Dream.
Colleges in the Piedmont Hub include:
- Central Piedmont Community College
- Davidson-Davie Community College
- Forsyth Technical Community College
- Guilford Technical Community College
- Montgomery Community College
- Randolph Community College
- Richmond Community College
- Rockingham Community College
- Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
- South Piedmont Community College
- Stanly Community College
“The Hubs have given me new insight into the potential of faculty communities throughout the state,” said Dr. Grant Jolliff, Assistant Professor of English at Davidson-Davie Community College and Co-Director of the Piedmont Teaching and Learning Hub. “Whether they are attendees or presenters, I have learned so much from my colleagues, and I know other faculty and staff have learned from presentations and the opportunity to share ideas or resources in the chat or after a presentation.”
The Piedmont Hub’s programming is uniquely designed for faculty. With a deep understanding of the needs within their communities, the Hub leverages “boots on the ground” insights to deliver impactful learning experiences. This allows the Hub to recruit seasoned community college faculty to share tried-and-tested ideas through workshops and presentations.
“It’s so encouraging to see attendees for one session come back for a future session,” said Dr. Kristin Redfield, English Professor at Forsyth Technical Community College and Co-Director of the Piedmont Teaching and Learning Hub. “In a lot of ways, we are a just-in-time lifeline to some of the faculty and staff. We ask them what they need, and then we do what we can to find ways of delivering a session that meets the needs of multiple colleges and attendees.”
Through strategic marketing efforts, the Hub has seen its reach grow beyond its affiliate colleges, attracting attendees from across the state. By tailoring sessions to meet the specific needs of individual colleges and leveraging tools like data dashboards, the Hub ensures its offerings resonate with a broad audience.
“Teaching and learning hubs like the Piedmont Hub are vital engines of innovation and collaboration within our community college system,” says Dr. Andrea Crowley, Executive Director of the NC Student Success Center. “The Piedmont Hub, in particular, has been exemplary in its role. It not only provides our faculty with the resources and training necessary to excel in their roles but also fosters an environment of continuous improvement and shared knowledge. The success of this Hub underscores the power of collective effort and the direct impact it has on educational quality across North Carolina.”
The two most popular workshops have been about the conversion of a 16-week course into 8 weeks and serving and understanding the GenZ student population.
Upcoming sessions highlight the Hub’s commitment to addressing relevant topics. In February, the Hub will offer “Now What? Moving from Industry to the Classroom” and “Using AI for Universal Design for Learning.”
“All of the Hub’s professional development programs are designed around the evolving needs of each campus, identified through ongoing communication with our co-directors and campus Professional Learning Leaders,” said Monique Colclough, Ph.D., Belk Center director of programs and initiatives. “These workshops showcase the Hub’s ability to adapt to emerging trends and challenges in education, as well as statewide priorities, ensuring we address both local and broader educational goals.”
For more information about upcoming opportunities, visit the Piedmont Hub’s events calendar at Cvent Calendar Link.
