Program lets students who quality easily apply for participating UNC school or community college

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The UNC System is piloting a new program at six of its universities that allows students to apply using one application. The North Carolina Connect program allows some high school seniors with a GPA of 2.8 or above to submit a streamlined application to community colleges or one of the six participating UNC schools.

The participating UNC universities are Fayetteville State University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Winston-Salem State University, Elizabeth City State University and University of NC Asheville.

Students who qualify can apply to one of the colleges in the area where they live. The student portal for NC College Connect opens on September 30

"We may be exposed to prospective students who hadn't considered us previously so this is another layer for us to provide that access and allow them to see a closer glimpse of Fayetteville State University as an institution," said LaToya Floyd, the executive director of admissions for Fayetteville State University.

Floyd said the program, NC College Connect, could have a significant effect on students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

NC College Connect is a program of the UNC System, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI), North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), GEAR UP North Carolina, North Carolina Community Colleges and the Office of Governor Roy Cooper.

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"We want to make sure that they know that we have steps that are in place for every step of their journey," she said.

Floyd acknowledges that some students are concerned about the potential financial burdens of going to college. But she pointed out NC College Connect will introduce them to financial aid and scholarship options--opportunities that might change their mindsets.

"I do see the value in this program for prospective students," Floyd said. "To not only be considered by institutions that they hadn't thought of before but to also get the value proposition of why a higher education is important to their long-term goals."