On January 23, Rockingham Community College held a signing ceremony to celebrate a partnership with NC State University for its Wolfpack Connect Program. The ceremony was held in the lobby of the Center for Workforce Development, and was attended by staff and students from RCC, NC State administrators, along with county and state leaders.

“...building strong relationships across communities is exactly what this day represents,” said RCC President Sylvia Cox, “...and we are proud to be a part of it.”

President Cox and NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell sat down to sign a document signifying their partnership. President Cox, who is an NC State Alumni, expressed the program's importance, stating that the partnership “…strengthens opportunities for students, supports workforce development, and deepens the pipeline between education and economic development for this region.” 

Wolfpack Connect offers guaranteed admission to students who complete an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS) degree at a North Carolina Community College. The program provides a clear roadmap to earning a bachelor’s degree at NC State, reducing uncertainty and encouraging degree completion.

Chancellor Howell spoke of the importance of this program to students. “It’s clear, it’s transparent, it’s reducing the barriers for higher education.” 

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger also voiced his support for Wolfpack Connect. “This partnership… is gonna give students an unimaginable opportunity,” said Senator Berger, “To give them the guarantee of furthering their education at the fine institution of NC State. If you work hard, and you meet academic expectations, you will have a guaranteed pathway… into one of our finest universities, NC State.”

An article published by NC State in September of 2025, stated that a little over half of transfer students are coming from the state’s community college system. Officials see Wolfpack Connect as an opportunity to build on transfer student successes and increase access for students across the state.