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North Carolina State University

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North Carolina State University
File:NCSUseal2c.jpg
TypeLand Grant University
Sea Grant University
Space Grant University
Established1887
Endowment$380 Million (2005)[1]
ChancellorJames L. Oblinger
Academic staff
7,064
Undergraduates23,730
Postgraduates7,400
Location
Raleigh
,
NC
,
USA
CampusUrban/Suburban 2,139 acres (8.65 km²)
YearbookAgromeck Yearbook
ColorsRed and White
NicknameWolfpack File:Newblocks.gif
Websitewww.ncsu.edu
North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Also known as North Carolina State University, NC State, or NCSU, the university is the principal technological institute of the University of North Carolina System. The North Carolina General Assembly founded NC State in 1887 as a land-grant college. Today, NC State has an enrollment of over 30,000, making it the largest university in North Carolina. While NC State has historical strengths in design, agriculture, engineering, and textiles, it offers over 100 Bachelor degree areas of study including mathematics, meteorology, economics, political science, forestry, physics, and education.

History

Main Article: History of North Carolina State University

First freshman class at North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1889.

The North Carolina General Assembly founded NC State in 1887 as a land-grant college under the name North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. As a land-grant college, NC State would provide a “liberal and practical education” while focusing on military tactics, agriculture and the mechanical arts without excluding classical studies. Since its founding, the university has maintained these objectives while building on them.[3]

Panoramic photo of campus taken around 1909

After opening its doors in 1889, NC State saw its enrollment fluctuate and its mandate expand. Due to the Great Depression, the North Carolina government administratively combined the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Women’s College at Greensboro, and NC State. This conglomeration later became the University of North Carolina system in 1971. After World War II, the university has constantly grown and changed.

In the Summer of 1956, North Carolina State University enrolled its first African-American undergraduates, Edward Carson and Manuel Crockett.

Currently, NC State has over 7,000 employees, over 30,000 students, an $820 million annual budget, and a $380 million endowment. It is also widely recognized as one of the three anchors of North Carolina's Research Triangle, together with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.[4] [5] [6]

Academics

Academic Units Table
College Enrollment (Fall 2005) Degrees include1
Undergrad Graduate
Agriculture
and
Life Sciences 		3,7492 848
  • Biological Sciences
  • Animal Science
  • Biochemistry
Design 494 188
  • Art and Design
  • Graphic Design
  • Architecture
Education 532 932
  • Higher Education Admin
  • Mathematics Education
  • School Admin
Engineering 5,400 1,795
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Computer Science
Humanities
and
Social Sciences 		3,988 763
  • Psychology
  • Political Science
  • Communications
Management 2,190 461
  • Accounting
  • Business Management
  • Economics
Natural Resources 597 200
  • Parks, Recreation and Tourism
  • Forest Management
  • Professional Golf Management
Physical
and
Mathematical Sciences 		849 724
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
Textiles 622 137
  • Textile and Apparel Management
  • Textile Engineering
  • Textile Technology
Veterinary Medicine 0 384
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Immunology
First Year College 1,413 0 (Non-degree granting)
Graduate School - - (See colleges above)3
  1. This list is not inclusive;
    full lists are available of bachelor degrees and graduate degrees
  2. An additional 352 students are pursuing Associate's degrees.
  3. Graduate programs are run by the respective colleges,
    but all graduate degrees are awarded by the Graduate School.

Academic units

NC State offers bachelor's degrees in 100 areas of study, master's degrees in 109 areas and doctorate degrees in 55 areas. Only the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers associate's degrees.

NC State is known for its programs in agriculture, engineering and science. The textile and paper science programs are notable, given the University’s location near active textile and paper producers. NC State also provides a First Year Program for incoming freshmen to give incoming freshmen an opportunity to experience several disciplines before selecting a major.[7][8][9]

Admission

Considered a more selective university, NC State accepts fewer than 60% of those who apply for undergraduate admissions. Out of the 3,175 students in the 2004 freshmen class, 43% were ranked in the top 10% of their high school class and 48% scored greater than 1200 on the SAT. Twenty-five percent were in both categories. State law limits the admission of students from outside North Carolina, so there is strong competition among non-residents for admissions.[10] [11]

Uniquely, NC State requires undergraduate admission candidates to choose a preferred college of study. After determining that an applicant meets the overall university requirements, the individual college must also agree to accept the student. Due to this process, some colleges have significantly higher admission requirements than others. For example, the College of Engineering has higher admission standards than the College of Natural Resources. In addition, students might have a difficult time transferring between colleges. Transferring to the College of Design from another college could be difficult due to lack of design experience.[12]

The Graduate School reviews all post-graduate education applications. For fall 2005, 7206 prospective students applied to the Graduate School; 2836 (39.4%) were admitted. Of these, 1755 (61.9%) enrolled. Total fall 2005 graduate enrollment 6128.[13]

Library

The library system at NC State, ranked 27th out of 113 North American research libraries, includes 3.4 million volumes and 54 thousand journal subscriptions (as of 2005).[14] [15] The library system has an annual budget of over $20 million and consists of 5 libraries. The largest library, D.H. Hill Library, located on Main Campus is over 11 stories tall and covers over 119 thousand square feet (11 thousand square meters). [16] NC State, as a member of the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN), has interlibrary loan services with Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina Central University.[17]

Reputation and rankings

US News and World Report places NC State 81st out of 248 national universities in the US (34th out of public colleges). The Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s Academic Ranking of World Universities positions NC State 101st among 500 world universities in terms of scientific research leading towards a Nobel Prize. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education designated the university as a “Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive,” a category given to only 96 research universities in the US. [18][19][20]

US News selected NC State 32nd in the US in quality of the education for the money. The Princeton Review put the university on its list of “Best Value Colleges”. [21][22]

Student life

D.H. Hill Library stands 11 stories tall and is named for NC State's first librarian.

Thirty-three percent of all students live on campus in one of twenty different residence halls. Most residence halls provide academic and social events as well as host programs that acclimate incoming students to the college experience. Each residence hall or residence hall area has an elected council to provide for local event programming and an outlet for student concerns. Collectively, representatives from each hall make up the Inter-Residence Council which represents the on-campus residence-life community as a whole. NC State has a growing Greek presence, and the university plans to renovate and improve many of the fraternity or sorority houses located on campus.

While Greeks do offer some social events, many residence halls host their own events, though alcohol policies are strictly enforced. One significant party is the "Design School Halloween Bash" hosted by the College of Design every October. By far the largest party and social events are those associated with sporting events.

The student center of the University includes an African American Cultural Center which has an art gallery and a library. There is also a multicultural student affairs office.

Student life at North Carolina State University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations. Besides fraternities and sororities, there are multicultural groups, arts groups, political and social action groups, service and professional groups, religious groups, sports and recreation groups, academic and professional groups, and special interest groups such as the Clogging Team, the Film Society, the Judo Club, the Equestrian Club, and the Black Finesse Modeling Troupe. NC State also boasts the first and only collegiate Dodgeball Club in the state of North Carolina.

Student traditions

In recent years, University Administration has made attempts to do away with or curb many of the closely held student traditions. Most notably, a large community gathering known as the Brent Road Party has been done away with due to efforts by the university and local police. Tailgating at football games has also been heavily restricted after the shooting death of 2 tailgaters in 2005. There have also been attempts to restrict the Design School Halloween Bash, the last remaining school sponsored wet party. Those attempts by the administration succeeded in 2006 after much controversy. The bash was still held but it was dry.

Shack-A-Thon

Shack-A-Thon was started with one shack in 1991 and has occurred every year since. Shack-a-Thon is NC State's Habitat for Humanity’s annual fall fundraiser. Habitat for Humanity and many other student organizations take over the Brickyard by building shacks that the students live, sleep, and study in for an entire week. Each group raises money by collecting from people walking through the brickyard.


Krispy Kreme Challenge

A more recent tradition of NC State is the Krispy Kreme Challenge. In this race, students meet at the university's Memorial Bell Tower, then run to a Krispy Kreme shop two miles away. Each student must finish a dozen glazed doughnuts, then run back to the bell tower on campus all within one hour. The Krispy Kreme Challenge was listed as one of the "102 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate" by Sports Illustrated.

Homecoming Week

The university is well known for its celebratory Homecoming traditions including a pep rally, Wear Red-Get Fed, a parade, spirit contests, and an extended tailgate bash. The week also includes a Leader of the Pack competition honoring NC State's brightest and most passionate male and female student leaders.

Hillsborough Hike

Occurring on the last day of classes (before finals), it is a bar crawl that starts at one end of Hillsborough Street and ends at the other. The goal is to get a drink from every bar.

Student government

Founded in 1921, the Student Government is a student-run organization that serves as the official voice of the student body and attempts to better the student experience at the University. Both a governing body and an advocacy group, Student Government is involved in policy-making, adjudication, programming, advocating, community service, and countless other activities. The organization is a clearinghouse for concerns from students and answers from administrators.[23]

The Student Government at NC State is composed of three branches. The Student Senate is a 64-member body that legislative policy and Student Government budgets. The Student Body President heads the executive branch. The president executes policy passed by the senate and is a member of the NCSU Board of Trustees. The Student Chief Justice heads the judicial branch and is the only student body elected member of the branch.[24]

Current officers (2006-2007):

  • Student Body President: Will Quick
  • Student Senate President: Zachary D. Adams
  • Student Body Treasurer: Adam Compton
  • Student Body Chief Justice: Lock Whiteside, III
  • Student Senate President Pro Tempore: James E. O. Hankins, II

Student media

File:NCSU Technician header.PNG
Technician has been NC State's student newspaper since 1920.

Technician has been North Carolina State University’s student-run newspaper since 1920. It employs more than 100 students throughout the year and reports on campus news, sports, entertainment, and state and national news. Technician is published Monday through Friday when school is in session with a circulation of about 15,000. The paper is funded by advertisement and a student media fee; it is distributed for free at numerous locations on campus and at area merchants. The 2006-2007 Editor-in-Chief is Tyler Dukes, and the paper is known for its columnists such as Jeff Gaither, Andrew Payne and Forrest Hinton.[25]

NC State’s oldest student publication, the Agromeck yearbook, celebrated its 100th birthday with the 2002 edition. It acts as a compendium of student life on campus including sporting events, social activities, and day-to-day living. The Agromeck serves as a historian of campus and is a reminder of the way things used to be. Each year, nearly 1,000 copies are printed and sold.[26]

NC State has its own student-run radio station, WKNC. WKNC is a non-commercial station and cannot run traditional advertisements. It does seek sponsors, who can be acknowledged on the air, but 90% of the station's funding is from the university. The radio station broadcasts at 25,000 watts and reaches around 200,000 people. The station host several formats run by student disc jockies.[27]

Athletics

File:Newblocks.gif
The red block ‘S’ with ‘N’ and ‘C’ has been in use since 1890.
Main article: NC State Wolfpack

As an Atlantic Coast Conference founding member, North Carolina State University competes in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. Also known as the Wolfpack, NC State has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championhips, and four titles under other sanctioning bodies.

Campus

Main

Holladay Hall, the first building built on NC State's campus in 1889, now houses the Chancellor's Office.

NC State’s Main Campus has three general areas: North Main Campus, Central Main Campus, and South Main Campus. North Main Campus is the oldest part of NC State and is home to most academic departments and a few residence halls. Central Main Campus is mainly residence halls, cafeterias, gymnasiums and student support departments. North and Central Main Campus are separated by a rail road track. Pedestrian and road tunnels are used to cross the tracks. Western Boulevard separates Central and South Main Campuses. Greek Court and a large conference center are found on South Main Campus. Main Campus is also divided into West, Central, and East Campus. West and Central campuses are divided by Dan Allen Drive, while Central and East are divided by Morill Drive and Reynolds Coliseum.[28]

NC State's PULSTAR Reactor is a 1 MW pool-type nuclear research reactor.

Architecturally, Main Campus is known for its distinctive red brick buildings. Due to oversupply, odd brick statues dot the landscape, a large section of main campus is paved over with brick (University Plaza, a.k.a. "the brickyard"), and most sidewalks are also made with brick. These sidewalks are also dotted with white brick mosaics.[29]

The Memorial Bell Tower, located in the Northeast corner of North Main Campus, serves as the signature of NC State and appears in the NC State Official Seal. It was constructed as a monument to alumni killed in World War I. The granite tower, completed in 1937, is 115 feet (35 meters) tall. As a tradition, the Bell Tower is lighted in red at night immediately following athletic victories and certain academic achievements.[30]

The Court of North Carolina, just West of the Memorial Bell Tower, is surrounded by the 1911 Building; the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in Tompkins, Caldwell, Winston Halls and Poe Hall; Page Hall, home to College of Engineering offices; and Leazar Hall, former location of the Computer Science Teaching Labs. It was once home to 100 trees (one for every county in North Carolina), but damage caused by Hurricane Fran in 1996 reduced the number significantly, including the destruction of a particularly old and large tree which was some 12 feet in diameter. Some replanting has occurred, but the Court's former appearance is far from being restored.[31]

Completed in 1937, the Memorial Bell Tower was built to honor thirty-three NC State alumni who died in World War I. It stands 115 ft. tall (35 m).

Southwest of the Court of North Carolina is another landmark, the Free Expression Tunnel. The Free Expression Tunnel functions as one of three pedestrian tunnels underneath the railroad tracks separating North Main Campus and Central Main Campus. This particular tunnel is the site of sanctioned graffiti; anyone may paint there, and it is often the place for political statements, personal messages, and unique art.[32]

Centennial

NC State's main campus is augmented by the 1,334 acre (5.4 km²) mixed-use Centennial Campus. Located 1 mile (1.6 km) south of the Memorial Bell Tower, this campus houses university, corporate, and government research, in addition to classrooms and non-student residences. The College of Textiles is based on this campus and long-term plans have the majority of the College of Engineering relocating to the new campus. The offices of Red Hat and the Raleigh branch of the National Weather Service are also on the Centennial Campus, as well as Centennial Campus Middle School.[33]

West

West Campus is located 2.5 miles (4 km) west of the Memorial Bell Tower. The campus’s 182 acres (0.73 km²) is bordered by the stadiums and the North Carolina State Fairgrounds to the west and Meredith College to the east. Situated on this campus is the University Club and North Carolina’s only Veterinary School. Since most of the campus is rolling pastoral land, part of it is converted to parking space during the North Carolina State Fair and NC State football games.[34]

JC Raulston Arboretum is an 8 acre (32,000 m²) arboretum and botanical garden operated by NC State, and located just south of West Campus. It is open daily without charge.[35]

Stadiums

The Stadium property is 3.4 miles (5.5 km) northwest of the Memorial Bell Tower. Both Carter-Finley Stadium and the RBC Center are located there. Aside from the two stadiums, the property is mainly open space used for event parking. The property borders the North Carolina State Fair to the North and hosts tailgating parties before NC State football games.[36][37]

People

Main Article: List of North Carolina State University People

A great number of people have made their way through NC State University. NC State has conferred 185,663 degrees (as of 2005) since opening its doors and has an estimated 145,000 living alumni. In addition, as of Fall 2005, the university employs 2,020 part and full time faculty members.[38] Out of these two groups, several notable individuals have emerged.

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Template:UNC System

Notes and references

  1. ^ 2005 NACUBO Endowment Study
  2. ^ Quick Facts Enrollment Fall 2006
  3. ^ "North Carolina State University Founding". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "Office of the Chancellor: Biography (See above)". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ "Historical Sketch of the North Carolina State University : University History: NCSU Libraries". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Brief History: North Carolina State University History: NCSU Libraries". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ [http://intranet.northcarolina.edu/docs/assessment/Profiles/2005-06/NCSU.pdf NC State Profile as provided by the UNC System Office
  8. ^ Co-op information Page
  9. ^ NC State Mission Statement. 1996.
  10. ^ "North Carolina State University Profile". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "NC State Official Data Used in Rankings". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ McNichol, Beth. "The Right Stuff: Getting in at NC State" (PDF). NC State Magazine. Summer 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2006.
  13. ^ "Annual Report for the Graduate School: 2005-06". Retrieved September 8. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "About the Libraries: NCSU Libraries". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "Association of Research Libraries". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "D.H. Hill Library". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ "NCSU Libraries Fact Sheet: NCSU Libraries". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ "NC State Official Data Used in Rankings". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ [1]
  20. ^ Carnegie Foundation
  21. ^ "NC State Ranked Second in National 'Best Value' List". Retrieved April 2. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "College on The Princeton Review". Retrieved November 23. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Description of the NC State Student Government.
  24. ^ NC State’s Judicial Branch.
  25. ^ Technician self-description and history.
  26. ^ Agromeck self-description and history.
  27. ^ WKNC self-description and history.
  28. ^ History of the Facilities of NCSU
  29. ^ History of the Brickyard
  30. ^ [2]
  31. ^ NCSU Information on the Bell Tower
  32. ^ Pittner, Danielle. "Free Expression Tunnel open". Technician. May 25, 2006.
  33. ^ Centennial Campus Overview.
  34. ^ Buildings on West Campus.
  35. ^ JC Raulston Arbortum self description.
  36. ^ RBC Center Description.
  37. ^ Carter-Finley Stadium Description.
  38. ^ "Total Employees -- Fall 2005". NCSU Faculty and Staff Information -- 2005. Retrieved February 26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |accessyear= ignored (|access-date= suggested) (help)
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