“HIGHER EDUCATION IS about opportunity. It’s about enhancing individuals’ abilities to make a positive impact on the world,” says Ayana Hernandez, Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). “We were the first public liberal arts college for African Americans in the USA, and we were founded to provide opportunity regardless of background.”
A DIVERSE OFFERING Established in 1909 and opened for the first class of students in 1910 as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua, NCCU today offers bachelor’s degrees and postgraduate programmes to a diverse student population. Its Graduate School alone offers close to 40 programmes across two colleges (in arts and sciences, and in behavioural and social science) and four schools (in business, information and library science, education, and law). Joint master’s degrees are also available, enabling students to gain two
postgraduate degrees concurrently. Malikah Hall, for example, graduated in 2015 with a joint master’s from the School of Law and the School of Library Science. “Joint master’s graduates are very marketable,” says Dr Jaleh Rezaie, Dean of Graduate Studies, adding that NCCU’s School of Library Science alone produces more African American librarians than any other programme in the country. Hernandez concurs. “Many of our students have gone on to be
trailblazers in their field,” she says. Malikah, for example, is now Research Librarian at Cornell University Law Library. “Employability is a priority at NCCU,” she adds. The university’s PhD programme—an interdisciplinary bioscience
course combining chemistry, biology and pharmaceutical science—was developed specifically with employability in mind, targeting the lack of minorities with PhDs in the STEM area (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and related workforce. “We are located in one of the best areas in the USA for research,” says Dr Rezaie. In addition to NCCU’s two Research Institutes—BRITE, which focuses on bio-manufacturing and technology, and the Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute—the university falls within the North Carolina research triangle. “This brings huge opportunity,” says Hernandez, noting strengths in the fields of pharmaceuticals and technology, and a strong culture of entrepreneurship. The latter is demonstrated by NCCU’s MBA programme and the School of Business’s engagement with the local American Underground@Main programme, which provides co-working office space for startup businesses. “There is so much growth and development locally,
with companies relocating their headquarters within five minutes of our campus,” says Hernandez, pointing to the internship opportunities this offers.
WELL CONNECTED Links with other universities and institutions provide further opportunities. NCCU’s partnership with the Law Library of Congress, for example, enables students on the joint Juris Doctor/Master of Library Science degree programme to intern at the largest and most prestigious law library in the world. The university also has strong ties with the School of Law Clinics, with the local private university Duke and with its sister institutions within the University of North Carolina system. “Students can benefit from a programme, presentation or talk every week
from within our network,” says Dr Rezaie. “Last year, for example, a professor from Boston University came to NCCU to talk about Ebola. These experiences allow our students to engage with thought leaders and experts.” NCCU’s motto is Truth and Service, and this is central to an institution
that was founded to benefit its local community. Established specifically to create opportunities for African Americans, the university continues to deliver excellence to a diverse student body to this day. “It’s a place where people can grow, regardless of their background,” says Malikah Hall. “It encourages you to believe in yourself and go for your goals.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141
