National Experts in Workforce Trends, Student Success to Keynote 2026 North Carolina Community College System Conference
Published: March 5, 2026
The North Carolina Community College System’s 2026 Conference will bring together national researchers and labor market experts to tackle one of higher education’s most urgent questions: how community colleges can ensure every student completes a credential that leads to a real career. Convening October 14–16 at the Raleigh Convention Center, the conference theme — “An Essential Investment: Centering Students in the Future of Work” — signals a shift from access to outcomes.
More than 2,000 educators, administrators, and partners from across North Carolina’s 58 community colleges will gather for the biennial event, which this year examines how institutions can drive economic mobility and position the state’s workforce for a rapidly changing global economy.
Featured Keynote Speakers
- October 15: Drs. Hana Lahr & Davis Jenkins, Community College Research Center; Moderator: President Lisa Chapman, Central Carolina Community College
As senior researchers at Teachers College, Columbia University, Drs. Lahr and Jenkins are nationally recognized for their leadership in the “Community College 3.0” movement. They will discuss their new book, More Essential Than Ever, exploring how colleges can redesign programs and pathways to ensure students complete credentials of value and secure family-sustaining careers.
- October 16: Dr. Laura Ullrich, Indeed Hiring Lab
Dr. Ullrich, Director of Economic Research at the Indeed Hiring Lab, will deliver a data-informed keynote on the shifting labor market. Drawing on real-time hiring trends and regional workforce analysis, her presentation will examine how employer demand and skills-based hiring should shape the design of programs and student supports.
Together, these keynote presentations will challenge and inspire attendees to think strategically about how they invest in students, ensuring the Great 58 remain responsive, relevant, and resilient in preparing learners for the future of work.
The conference will open on October 14 with remarks from the North Carolina Community College System’s new president. The presidential search process is currently underway following the planned retirement of Dr. Jeff Cox this summer.
“Our biennial System Conference brings together colleagues and partners who are deeply committed to student success,” said Dr. Brian Merritt, Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer at the System. “This year’s theme reflects the work we do every day to help students thrive and to strengthen our communities and workforce.”
Call for Proposals and Student Art Contest
The 2026 Conference is currently accepting program proposals through March 31. Submissions are encouraged to align with the conference theme across five tracks, ranging from early student success to employer-aligned pathways.
Additionally, North Carolina community college students are invited to submit designs for the official conference program cover. The submission deadline for the art contest is also March 31, 2026, at 5 p.m.
For more information on registration, proposal submissions, or the keynote speakers, please visit the official System Conference portal.