Who We Are – UCPLC

What is the Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council (UCPLC)

The Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council (UCPLC) was established to leverage the collective resources of its members to enhance higher education and address regional challenges. North Carolina State University was tasked with providing both administrative and financial oversight for its collaborative efforts.

Since 2008, the UCPLC has engaged in broad discussions focusing on the economic status of the region, K-12 education, workforce preparedness, and healthcare services. These discussions have led to the identification of three critical areas of need:

Improvement in Teacher Quality and Distribution: The region requires more and better-trained teachers. Under the UNC-Tomorrow strategy for Improving Public Education (4.3), the Program Committee focused on Recommendation 4.3.1, which calls for improving the quantity, quality, and geographic distribution of school teachers. Additionally, Recommendation 4.3.2 emphasizes enhancing the teaching skills of in-service teachers.
Increasing Access to Higher Education: Many K-12 students in the region do not view higher education as accessible. The UNC-Tomorrow strategy for Access to Higher Education (4.2) includes Recommendation 4.2.1, which urges UNC to increase access to its courses, and Recommendation 4.2.2, which emphasizes strengthening collaboration with NC Community Colleges to make higher education more attainable.
Enhancing Healthcare Services and Education: The region faces a shortage of nurses and a need for better healthcare services and education for both children and adults. Within the UNC-Tomorrow strategy for Health (4.5), there is a clear directive for UNC to lead efforts in improving the health and wellness of people and communities across the state.

The UNC-Tomorrow Commission highlighted that these challenges are particularly pronounced in rural and underserved areas, like the five counties served by the UCPLC. The Commission recommended that UNC should “focus specific effort” on these areas. Therefore, the UCPLC’s work represents a concerted effort to apply the collective resources of UNC, in collaboration with community colleges, private colleges, universities, and the broader community, to meet the specific needs of this region, in alignment with the comprehensive goals of the UNC-Tomorrow initiative.