The Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council (UCPLC) was formed to provide higher educational opportunities through a collective effort of the University of North Carolina System Office, the North Carolina Community College System and the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities in order to achieve the UNC-Tomorrow recommendations (external PDF) to increase access to higher education through UNC institutions and Community Colleges.

The UCPLC was formed to address this collaboration covering the five county regions including Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton and Wilson Counties and including the two private colleges in the region, Barton and NC Wesleyan University. The North Carolina General Assembly has provided recurring funding since 2008 for this northeastern North Carolina initiative. The members of the council are exceptional leaders in their communities in the fields of education, business and government.