Building Rural Impact
Creating research-driven programs that support rural students, families, educators, and their communities
Partnering With The Rural NC Community
The Office of Rural Promise (ORP) housed in the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) builds partnerships to solve big challenges in rural communities; designs and implements services that impact rural students, families and educators; conducts evaluation and research on its programs to share with the field and recommends strategies and policy. Our team brings together rural leaders and leverages the existing strengths and innovations in our communities.
College Access Partnerships became part of the Research and Innovation division in 2025 and is now under the umbrella of the new Office of Rural Promise.
College Access Partnerships
College Access Partnerships (CAP) supports students from the Appalachian region of North Carolina to find their own unique path to postsecondary education and achieve their dreams.
In addition to expanding college access, our programs drive rural prosperity by strengthening the three E’s—enrollment, employment, and enlistment.
By preparing students to pursue meaningful postsecondary pathways, these initiatives fuel local talent pipelines, support regional economic growth, and help build the conditions where rural communities can thrive for generations.
Professional Development for Educators
Learning in the Professions
Learning in the Professions applies a self-directed micro-credential model to professional learning, providing consulting on micro-credential design and implementation, custom professional learning using institutional expertise, and program evaluation for grant recipients.
Supporting Rural NC Schools
NC Rural Education Collaborative
The NC Rural Education Collaborative serves as the state affiliate for the National Rural Education Association. The program works across all of NC to bring rural educators together providing services to rural schools.
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Our Strategic Partners
We believe the best way for our region to grow economically is to educate our students beyond high school. We build strategic partnerships that support our mission to strengthen local communities through college access and success. Our partners include community businesses and organizations, higher education and western NC school districts.