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Education leaders urge stronger town‑and‑gown partnerships to keep graduates in Greensboro
Summary
A panel with leaders from Guilford College, Greensboro College and North Carolina A&T told Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter that guaranteed internships, revived cross‑sector partnerships and improved transportation can help retain graduates; A&T’s chancellor said the university expects an R1 designation announcement next year.
Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter invited higher‑education leaders to the stage for a conversation about talent retention and workforce pathways. Panelists included Guilford College President Jean Parvin Bordewich, Greensboro College President Dr. Lawrence Czarda and North Carolina A&T Chancellor Dr. James R. Martin.
President Jean Parvin Bordewich said the city can help by expanding guaranteed, meaningful work experiences before students graduate. She reported that about 62 seniors in a recent class of 263 completed internships and urged the city to help broker paid or funded opportunities. "If we could tell all of our students that you're going to have a meaningful work experience, ... I think they would stay," Bordewich said.
Greensboro College President Dr. Lawrence Czarda noted his institution now requires an internship of every graduate and recommended stronger marketing of city assets and a renewed multi‑stakeholder effort to connect K–12, higher education, employers and elected leaders. He urged reviving a prior coalition, Opportunity Greensboro, to coordinate internships and workforce pathways.
Chancellor James R. Martin said North Carolina A&T is on the threshold of R1 research status and described the implications for the region: increased graduate programs, more research funding and a larger role in regional economic development. "There are only about 180 R1 universities," he said, and "we have passed all the criteria," adding that an official announcement could come in roughly a year.
Panelists also raised practical barriers: Bordewich and others pointed to limited campus‑to‑downtown transportation that leaves students isolated and suggested the city consider transit or shuttle options; they recommended leveraging alumni networks and lifelong learning programs to build long‑term connections. The panel concluded with a shared call for renewed partnerships among city government, employers and higher education to create internships, innovation districts and strategic infrastructure to keep talent in the region.
