On the Road Again – North Carolina A&T State University. North Carolina A&T University is a public, historically Black land grant university founded in 1891 and the home to 10,000 undergraduate students. The campus is just a short walk to downtown Greensboro. Not only is it the largest HBCU in the country but this highly regarded university is often said to be one of the best public HBCUs. Many of the programs including nursing, business and education are excellent but the university is particularly strong in STEM fields, including computer science, electrical engineering and agricultural and environmental sciences. North Carolina A&T’s engineering program graduates more Black engineers than any other university in the US. But, its agricultural roots are also alive and well as evidenced by an almost 500 acre working farm and its technology roots are seen in two large research parks. Here are a few of the highlights:
Emphasis on student development: Professors teach students to solve problems on a local and global level through technology, business, engineering and the arts. The university prides itself on interdisciplinary studies and undergraduate opportunities in research and community service. Professors and students collaborate in rural locations and in cities throughout the state and around the world on a variety of topics ranging from aerospace engineering to biotechnology, national defense, food science and transportation and logistics to name just a few.
The Greensboro Sit-In that changed the world: One of the most significant events in the history of North Carolina A&T took place in 1960 when four students from the university staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in downtown Greensboro. The protest quickly gained national attention and inspired similar protests, a major factor in the eventual desegregation across the country.
Honors Program: North Carolina A&T is also known for its honor program for a select 1,000 students. These students benefit from early housing, smaller classes and additional scholarships.
Chancellor Speaker Series: The Chancellor speaker series is stellar, attracting well known individuals to campus including one of my favorite actors, Sterling K. Brown who spoke about “MENtality.” Some other notables include Tracee Ellis Ross who spoke about women’s rights, Magic Johnson who discussed building Black businesses, financier Mellody Hobson who spoke to the students about the racial wealth gap, Olympic medalist and world champion Allyson Felix who discussed the power of a strong and healthy mind and overcoming adversity, Chance the Rapper who talked about the power of voting and Valerie Jarrett, a former senior advisor to President Obama, who spoke about the importance of leadership and public service.
Famous alumni: North Carolina A&T is the alma mater of many famous alumni including civil rights leader and politician Jesse Jackson, Ronald McNair, a physicist and NASA astronaut who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and J.D. Boyd, a former NFL player and the first African-American to serve as an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers.
Aggies: North Carolina A&T’s athletes consistently do well, especially in football, men’s and women’s basketball and track and field. The Aggie pride is evident throughout the student body.
Hungry?: Aggies who are hungry have easy access to a meal or snack. Students can order food and a robot will deliver it right to their dorm!
“Greatest Homecoming on Earth” (GHOE): The GHOE is a week-long celebration often reaching over 40,000 people held every fall that brings together students, faculty, alumni and locals for a parade, concert and football game. The festivities include the crowning of the university’s homecoming king and queen.
Whether it is academics, national impact or fun, North Carolina A&T has it all.
