Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is a public, comprehensive post-secondary institution whose primary service area is Caldwell and Watauga counties. Operating under the legal framework of the State of North Carolina and in partnership with the North Carolina Community College System, we are an open-door institution that values the diversity of its constituencies and offers equal opportunities.

Philosophy

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is committed to providing an environment conducive to student success through institutional integrity, ethical practices, and an expectation of excellence. The institution provides leadership during social, economic, and cultural transitions through teaching, promoting lifelong learning, improving the quality of life, and fostering academic and civic enrichment. We are dedicated to educating a workforce prepared for a rapidly changing global economy.

The mission of Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is to:

• provide accessible, quality instruction to enhance student learning,
• support economic development through comprehensive resources to business, industry, and agencies, and
• offer diverse services and opportunities which improve the quality of life.

As an institution of the community and for the community, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is committed to creating a supportive learning-centered environment that encourages innovation and creativity and acts as a catalyst for growth in the intellectual, cultural, and economic life of the community. We are responsive to the educational needs of a diverse population and are dedicated to student success by opening doors to educational potential. As we look to the future, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute will continue to build and maintain academic excellence and economic vitality in the region it serves.

Vision Statements

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute will continue to be a state, national, and global community college model for student-centered higher learning. Toward these ends, CCC&TI will:

• provide services and resources that empower students to succeed;
• sustain, enhance, develop, and deliver relevant and innovative educational programs and services that prepare graduates for significant careers and meaningful lives;
• foster an institutional culture that promotes commitment to excellence and accountability through equity, inclusion, and diversity;
• elevate the college’s presence in the communities it serves;
• enhance facilities, upgrade technologies, and advance operations to create an environment of excellence; and
• develop and maintain programs and services to enrich and advance the workforce of our communities.

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute’s core values represent our shared beliefs within the institution. These values define the character or essence of the institution, describe expectations, set standards, and drive our organization’s priorities.

As an institution, we value:
Teaching and Learning—We embrace an educational climate that promotes lifelong learning, intellectual growth, and scholarship through excellence in teaching.
Student Success—We cultivate environments and opportunities that are conducive to student learning, development, and success.
Academic Excellence—We commit to providing exemplary educational experiences.
Innovation—We aspire to improve the college environment through critical and creative thinking.
Integrity—We encourage an environment of fairness and honesty by upholding the highest ethical standards throughout the college.
Communication—We recognize that effective communication is essential to establishing a culture that fosters collaboration, strengthens relationships with others, and promotes the mission of the college.
Community—We nurture partnerships and relationships that strengthen the local, regional, state, and global communities.
Inclusion and Diversity—We create respectful and equitable work and learning environments across differences where every person feels valued and has opportunities for growth and potential.

Over the past four years, national attention has turned to view community colleges around the country as a solution to the ever-increasing need for a well-educated workforce. Today, the biggest problem found in the job market is a near complete mismatch between the skills workers have and the skills required in emerging industries. In a new Korn Ferry study that includes a sweeping country-by-country analysis, the biggest issue is that there are not enough humans to fill jobs. Indeed, the study finds that by 2030, there will be a global human talent shortage of more than 85 million people, or roughly equivalent to the population of Germany. Left unchecked, in 2030 that talent shortage could result in about $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenues (www.kornferry.com/insights/articles/talent-crunch-future-of-work).

Governments and organizations must make talent strategy a key priority and take steps now to educate, train, and upskill their existing workforce. By 2030, if current trends hold, the United States could have a shortage of up to nine million workers with a college degree needed to fill jobs. Nearly six million Americans who lack a high school diploma will be unemployed. These are staggering figures. Furthermore, to combat the nation’s shortage of qualified workers, myFutureNC unveiled its goal and bold vision for the future of education in North Carolina in February 2019. This goal ensures that by 2030, two million North Carolinians will have a high-quality credential or post-secondary degree.

As Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute looks to the future, the institution is prepared to step up to this challenge. We recognize the impact the college will make in helping to grow our region while also meeting the expectations of a rapidly changing educational environment. Most importantly, the college looks to further its mission of helping all students achieve their educational and professional goals.

Strategic planning at Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute is an in-depth, all-encompassing process culminating in a five-year strategic plan. The strategic planning process is completed over two years, beginning with an environmental scan and a comprehensive review of the current institutional mission, core values, and planning trends and assumptions developed through discussion with college stakeholders. Analysis of this data provides the base for CCC&TI Future Search, an event that invites Board of Trustees members, faculty, staff, students, and community partners to contribute to the building of a new strategic plan. The vision statements, goals, and initiatives will guide planning and resources through 2025 in an effort to meet the institutional mission and respond to the needs of the community.

The vision statements, goals, and initiatives in the strategic plan evolved from the work of college stakeholders and the College Planning Council, with approval by the Executive Council and the Board of Trustees. Expected outcomes will be written and implemented annually, along with metrics to measure the success of the outcomes.

As one of the premier educational institutions in Western North Carolina, CCC&TI strives to be responsive to the needs of the region by fostering a dynamic, well-educated, and globally competent community. CCC&TI aims to be the

• 1st choice in education for Caldwell and Watauga counties.
• 1st choice as an economic partner by businesses and corporations in our region.