College Recruiting Webinar Replay: Aligning the Government, Higher Education and the Private Sectors for Success

On April 24, ROCS hosted a webinar with Jon Hardister who is currently the North Carolina House Majority Whip and Chair of the Education - Universities committee and Vice Chair of Appropriations. He has been involved with many of the announcements of new companies that are coming to the Triad and throughout North Carolina. Recently, he announced his candidacy to become the next Labor Commissioner of North Carolina.Below are three takeaways from the session.

North Carolina has enough people to fill existing roles, individuals just need to be educated and trained. The state has created a number of programs to assist individuals from ApprenticeshipNC to Project Kitty Hawk assisting adult learners to complete their degrees online.

North Carolina has created a business friendly environment with reforming the tax code, investing in transportation, and the education system to create a more skilled workforce. These investments were recognized as being named the best state in the nation to do business by CNBC, and $19 billion invested by 182 organizations creating over 28,000 jobs in 2022.  

North Carolina has created one of the best and most affordable higher education systems in the country. The UNC State System has held tuition constant for seven consecutive years and limited fees to only a 3% increase each year. They have invested $188 million in need-based state aid to public and private institutions. They have also created 4 options for the North Carolina Promise that limited tuition to $500 per semester.

About the Panelists

Jon Hardister is currently the North Carolina House Majority Whip and Chair of the Education - Universities committee and Vice Chair of Appropriations. He has been involved with many of the announcements of new companies that are coming to the Triad and throughout North Carolina. Recently, he announced his candidacy to become the next Labor Commissioner of North Carolina.

Stuart Mease is currently a Director for ROCS Grad Staffing with a career spanning the private, governmental and higher education sectors providing a unique lens to the labor market. Prior to ROCS, Mease spent 15 years at college career centers at Virginia Tech and Wake Forest.

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