History of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University facts for kids
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, often called N.C. A&T, is a special university with a long history. It was the first "land-grant" college in North Carolina for African American students. A "land-grant" college is a school that receives money or land from the government to teach practical subjects like farming and engineering.
N.C. A&T started because of a law called the Second Morrill Act in 1890. This law said that states needed to create separate colleges for African American students if they didn't allow them into existing colleges.
So, on March 9, 1891, the "Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race" was created. It began in Raleigh, North Carolina, as part of Shaw University. Soon after, the college moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, thanks to donations of land and money from local people.
At first, both young men and women could attend the college from 1893 to 1901. Then, for a while, only men were allowed. But in 1928, women were welcomed back to study at the university.
In the second half of the 1900s, N.C. A&T changed a lot. In 1967, its name officially became "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University." During this time, students at N.C. A&T played a big part in the Civil Rights Movement. They held peaceful protests called "sit-ins" at businesses that didn't treat everyone equally. The campus was also involved in events during the 1969 Greensboro Uprising, where students stood up for their rights.
In the 2000s, N.C. A&T became known as a top university for research and advanced studies. It works with big companies and government groups to get funding. This money helps improve academic programs, offers scholarships to students, and helps the university become a leading school for learning and research around the world.
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How It Started: The Early Years
The idea for North Carolina A&T came from a U.S. law called the Second Morrill Act of 1890. This law was passed on August 30, 1890. It was mainly for states that used to be part of the Confederacy. The law said that states had to either allow all races into their colleges or create separate colleges for African American students. This way, all students could get a good education.
To follow this new law, North Carolina decided to create a separate college. On March 9, 1891, the "Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race" was officially started. It began in Raleigh as an extension of a private school called Shaw University. The law that created the college said its main goal was to teach practical farming and mechanical skills, along with other academic subjects.
The college started small, with only four teachers and 37 students. They learned about farming, English, gardening, and math. In 1892, the college's leaders decided to move the school to Greensboro. Other cities like Durham and Wilmington were considered, but Greensboro offered $11,000 and 14 acres of land. The new campus was set up in Greensboro the next year. On May 25, 1892, John Oliver Crosby was chosen as the college's first president.
The main building on the new campus, called "the college building," was finished in 1893. It was a very important building because it served many purposes. It had dorms for both men and women, a cafeteria, classrooms, and offices. Sadly, this building was destroyed by a fire in 1930.
In 1899, the college gave out its first degrees. Students like W.T.C. Cheek and I.S. Cunningham earned Bachelor of Science degrees. From 1893, both men and women could attend the college. However, in 1901, the leaders decided to only allow men. This rule lasted until 1928, when women were once again allowed to enroll.
By 1904, the college had a large 100-acre farm with modern farm equipment. This farm helped provide much of the food for the campus cafeteria. In 1915, the college's name was changed to "Negro Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina."
Growing Bigger: Expansion and New Programs
Because land-grant colleges were required to offer military training, N.C. A&T started a Junior Unit of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) in 1919. This program taught students about military leadership. Later, in 1942, a Senior Division R.O.T.C. was created, and an Air Force unit followed in 1951.
In 1925, Dr. Ferdinand D. Bluford became the college's third president. N.C. A&T also joined the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association, which is now known as the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The next year, the college's National Alumni Association was formed to connect past students.
In 1928, the college started allowing female students again after a 27-year break. By December 1931, women were even allowed to be part of the student government for the first time. In 1939, the college was allowed to offer master's degrees in education and other subjects. The first master's degree was awarded to Roy Elloy two years later.
The 1940s and 1950s were a time of growth for the college. In 1946, it bought 96 more acres of land next to its original campus. In 1953, the School of Nursing was created, and its first students graduated four years later.
In 1955, Dr. Warmoth T. Gibbs became the college's fourth president. Two years later, the college changed its name again to "Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina." In the same year, Rodney Jaye Miller became the first white student admitted to the college. By 1959, the college was fully approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which means it met high standards for education.
Students and the Civil Rights Movement
Students at North Carolina A&T played a very important role in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s. On February 1, 1960, four freshmen from N.C. A&T helped start a big change in the southern United States. These students were Ezell Blair (who later became Jibreel Khazan), Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, and David Richmond. They went to a Woolworth's store that only served white customers at its lunch counter. They sat down and asked to be served, even though they knew they might be turned away.
Their brave actions quickly inspired other students from the university to join them in these peaceful protests. These events became known as the Greensboro sit-ins. By the end of July 1960, these four freshmen were famous as the Greensboro Four. Their actions helped lead to the end of segregation at lunch counters across the country.
In 1964, John A. Steinhauer became the first white student to earn a degree from N.C. A&T. He earned a master's degree in education with a focus on chemistry. The next year, the college bought the land of the former Immanuel Lutheran College, which was right next to the campus.
In 1967, the college was officially named "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University." It also created new academic divisions for industrial education, technology, business, and economics. In September 1968, the university's academic departments were reorganized into different schools, such as the School of Agriculture, School of Engineering, and School of Nursing.
In 1969, students from N.C. A&T, along with students from nearby James B. Dudley High School, were involved in a four-day event with the Greensboro Police and the National Guard. This event, known as the 1969 Greensboro Uprising, happened because of concerns about civil rights at the high school. It started on the high school campus and spread to the N.C. A&T campus, where students supported the protest. The situation became tense, leading to a confrontation. The uprising ended after the National Guard entered a male dormitory, taking many students into protective custody. Sadly, one freshman student, Willie Ernest Grimes, died during the conflict. He was later given a bachelor's degree from the university in 2008 to honor him.
Recent History
In 1970, the university created the School of Business and Economics. The next year, a new law brought all 16 public universities in North Carolina that offer bachelor's degrees together into one system: the University of North Carolina System. Because of this, N.C. A&T became a part of this larger system. Lewis Carnegie Dowdy, who was the college's sixth president, became its first chancellor in July 1972.
On June 1, 1985, the School of Arts and Sciences was renamed the College of Arts and Sciences. Two years later, the School of Technology was created. In 1988, N.C. A&T had a record number of students, with 6,200 enrolled. The next year, even more students joined, reaching a total of 6,500.
In 2000, Dr. Carolyn W. Meyers made history by becoming the university's first female vice chancellor of academic affairs. The next year, she became the first provost of the university. Also in 2001, Yaxi Shen became the first woman to earn a Ph.D. degree at N.C. A&T.
On March 31, 2003, a special honors group called Phi Beta Kappa opened a new chapter at N.C. A&T. This shows the high academic standards of the university. In September of that year, the university announced a plan to create a Joint Millennial Campus with UNC-Greensboro. This campus would focus on helping the local economy grow. The next year, the Carnegie Foundation recognized N.C. A&T as a university that focuses heavily on doctoral degrees and research.
In 2009, Dr. Harold L. Martin, Sr. was chosen as the twelfth Chancellor of the University. The next year, N.C. A&T was approved to start a Ph.D. program in Computational Science and Engineering. In the same year, the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) opened. This school was special because it was one of the few in the country to offer degrees in nanotechnology, and it was created by two universities working together.
Preeminence 2020: A Plan for the Future
In 2010, Chancellor Harold L. Martin created a team to develop a new plan for the university's future. This team, called the Strategic Planning Resource Council (SPRC), had 35 members, including leaders, teachers, staff, students, and people from outside the university. Their job was to look at how the university was doing, find areas to improve, and create a bold plan.
This plan, called "Preeminence 2020," had a big goal: to make North Carolina A&T a top university for learning and research in the state, across the nation, and even around the world.
The plan included almost 36 specific goals, divided into six main areas:
- Intellectual climate: Making sure the university is a great place for learning and new ideas.
- Faculty excellence: Having excellent teachers and researchers.
- Research Activity: Doing important and new research.
- Entrepreneurship and civic engagement: Encouraging new business ideas and helping the community.
- Diversity and inclusiveness: Making sure everyone feels welcome and included.
- Academic and Operational excellence: Making sure all parts of the university work well and offer great education.
