Forsyth Tech reports enrollment gains, campus expansions and new grants in quarterly briefing

Paula Dibley, chief officer for student success and strategic innovation at Forsyth Technical Community College, updated the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners on the college’s quarterly progress on March 24.

Dibley said Forsyth Tech is seeing rising enrollment, major campus construction nearing completion and new program investments. “We are 65 years young, at Forsyth Tech this year,” she said, and reported fall enrollment at about 9,200 students and spring enrollment at about 8,824 students, which she called an 11‑year enrollment high.

The presentation highlighted several capital projects. Dibley said the Transportation Technology Center expansion is about 68% complete and on track for a May finish. The project is a pre‑engineered metal building intended to relieve space constraints for high‑demand transportation programs; the college is working with Rivian to secure equipment donations for electric‑vehicle training. A Facilities Maintenance Building on the Silas Creek campus is roughly 75% complete, with landscaping and paving scheduled in coming weeks. Dibley also described a multi‑phase learning commons project — demolition and site clearing are nearly finished and the college plans a three‑story learning commons of roughly 4,500 square feet pending state approvals and final funding.

Dibley described several workforce and engagement initiatives. Forsyth Tech coordinated a hands‑on partnership with NASCAR and Bowman Gray at the Transportation Technology Center to let students assist with pre‑race inspections; the college showed a local news segment about the event. The college also celebrated a recent graduating class of its Basic Law Enforcement Training program; Dibley said many of those graduates were already employed.

On student success initiatives, Dibley said Forsyth Tech will participate in Boost, a state‑level replication program funded by Arnold Ventures. She said the North Carolina Community College System received a $35,600,000 investment for Boost to pilot an advising‑intensive model at 15 colleges; Forsyth Tech is in the first cohort and the system will fund most costs for three years with an expectation of local sustainment thereafter.

Dibley also described College Lift, an early‑intervention program that starts with sixth graders from Title I middle schools and adds extended Saturday instruction and family supports. She said the program’s first graduating cohort posted 100% high‑school graduation and 100% college matriculation for that initial class; Dibley said the model also provides dual‑credit opportunities while students are still in high school and additional services for parents, such as English as a second language and employability training.

The college is also launching athletics and esports with privately funded renovations at its West Campus gym, including men’s basketball and women’s volleyball programs; the athletic work is funded through the college foundation, Dibley said. Forsyth Tech was announced as a recipient of a Bellwether Award for its College Lift program, an award that recognizes innovative community‑college programs nationally.

Commissioners asked for clarifications about which programs are housed at the Transportation Technology Center and whether Boost includes scholarships. Dibley said most transportation programs are already located at the Transportation Technology Center; the truck‑driving CDL program may expand to the site if a driving track can be added. She said Boost requires students to meet eligibility similar to the North Carolina scholarship threshold (household income of $80,000 or less) and that the program covers tuition and provides additional supports such as funds for books and advising incentives.

Dibley closed by inviting officials to participate in the college’s reimagination strategic‑planning process and said hiring is underway for Boost‑funded positions to start with the fall cohort.

The college’s quarterly report was delivered as an informational briefing; commissioners did not take formal action during the briefing session.