North Carolina Central University (Take 2)
NC Central University (visited 3/26/24) (Click here for notes and pictures from my 2017 visit)
Between some of the athletic fields (and several res halls on the far side of those) and a good chunk of the academic part of campus sits the “Jesus Steps” – a long, steep staircase that a lot of students have to climb at least once a day. On our tour, we saw a kid sitting at the top, telling us they almost killed her. “You’re gonna be asking Jesus for mercy when you’re climbing these things. These are a workout on their own.”
NCCU is a public (so reasonably priced), up-and-coming HBCU. It’s strategically located in Durham (across town from Duke). “The area is rich with jobs and opportunities; lots of big companies are headquartered here. People come here for school and stay,” said one of the reps.
Their graduation rate, until recently, hasn’t been great. Now, their retention rate is close to 80% and their 4- and 6-year graduation rates are increasing. “We’re putting things in place to make sure that students successful. We’re meeting students where they are.” Part of this intentionality includes instituting the Eagle Promise: students who participate are given a 4-year pathway to graduation (they get out on time, are job ready when they graduate, are socially and globally engaged, and get student leadership training). With the Eagle Promise, the mechanisms are in place to increase retention. Part of this impetus for increasing graduation rates (which seemed stagnant for many years) is that they’re now getting money based on who many people graduate, not how many they bring in. For years, the state funded on the front end based on enrollment. Because they also have a big gender disparity (about a 70/30 split), they’re working on recruiting more males AND helping them persist until graduation through the Men’s Achievement Center, a 4-year matriculation plan, and a Living Learning Center. They’re also recruiting Latinx students.
A few counselors expressed concern about the part of town the university is located in, but this doesn’t feel unsafe to most people. In fact, the university is consistently ranked 1 of the top 3 safest school. As part of the counselor program, the Head of Security spoke to us (so maybe the security reputation is out there for a reason). They have 2200 cameras on campus. Kids feel safe. “Campus safety is more than the officers – it takes everyone to protect everyone.” Stemming from this philosophy, the university is working on helping students connect and create community: “It’s hard to hate a person you have a relationship with them. You’re more willing to work on issues,” said a rep.
Part of the community building is increasing the residential nature of the university – and they know that living on campus not only builds community but increases success and persistence-to-graduation rates. Currently, only 40% of students live on campus, but they did just build a brand-new dorm which will increase this.
They have an Living Learning Community for students with documented disabilities; they have coaching, etc. “If you want us to be the person who just gets a letter for the professors for extended time, we can be that school for you, but if you want more, we’re going to be more. You get out what you put in.” Very intentional about trying to address figuring out living away from home, how to communicate with roommates, figure it out.
Students get academic advising through University College until they have about 55 credits; then they get transferred to an advisor in their school – but they can declare their majors before then.
- Their School of Business is a Direct-entry program. They offer several concentrations: data analytics, cybersecurity – do the business side to set up policy etc. New building – including a culinary lab, a trading room, 200 seat auditorium, and other bells and whistles. Joint MBA-JD degree within 4 years.
- College of Health and Sciences: “These are combined because there’s a synergy between them.”
- They have some accelerated programs including a BS/MS Pharmaceutical Sciences, a BS/MS Kinesiology &Recreation Management, and a BS/MS Food & Consumer Sciences/Food & Nutrition
- Nursing is “our crowned jewel program” with over 400 students in the major. Students come in as pre-nursing majors and must pass all their pre-reqs with at least a 3.2GPA as well as scoring at least 70 on the Test of Essential Academic Skills before they’re allowed to declare the nursing major.
- The Environmental, Earth, & Geospatial Sciences department is the first to have a licensing program for drone operations!
- NCCU’s School of Education is the only one in the state that provides training for working with students with visual impairment.
- The School of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities has several programs to note:
- NCCU’s Psych Department is rated as the best at an HBCU. Students have the option to do dual/accelerated BS/MS degrees in General or Clinical Psych.
- Their Music Department won a national championship in 2023: “This is a department – not a full school or conservatory – competing against full schools of music!” said one of the reps. They’ve competed at Carnegie Hall and other similar venues.
- They have a Hip Hop concentration in their History department.
Honors College has about 650 students enrolled at any given time. “We start with the end goal in mind. Student have a chance to talk to representatives of the prestigious scholarships [Fulbrights, etc.], grad schools, and employers. They learn what do they need to have do be competitive, and then we build those skills in. It’s innovative.” Incoming students can compete for a competitive full-ride scholarship: they can provide 50 total (for students in all 4 years) at any given time. Students need a weighted GPA of 4.0 to apply for the scholarship – but for the honors college, the average student in the program has a 3.7.
They’re working on having a fully funded experience for Honors Students to go abroad; they’re not there yet, “although we do have payment plans” for what they do provide. Hopefully this year, the trip will be ‘The Black Experience in Europe.’ They also encourage students to go abroad through group and individual experiences – and they have corporate partnerships for internships abroad and across the US. “They need to experience other spaces. Grades won’t get you where you want to go. What’s going to make you stand apart?”
They also have a partnership with MIT with guaranteed summer research up there. Sponsored research funding has almost doubled in recent years for on and off campus experiences. Enrolling is going up because of this.
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