Visitor’s Guide NC State University Talley Student Union Talley Student Union is the hub for quality student-life experiences and community-building on campus. It features a grand ballroom, a wide variety of dining, lounging and meeting venues, recreational areas, student organization and government offices, and the NC State Bookstore. 5 NC State at a Glance 20 Main Campus Map 6 History 22 Biomedical Campus Map Educational Leadership 23 Centennial Campus Map 9 Hillsborough Traditions 24 Hillsborough Street Map 10 Undergraduate Admissions 26 Raleigh Diversity 28 Polar Plunge 13 Real-World Learning Golf and Dine at NC State Outreach and Extension 31 Athletics 14 Research and Centennial Campus 32 Park Alumni Center 17 Service Red and White for Life Hunt Library 34 Directory 18 Open House Visitor Parking Faculty & Staff 2,336 faculty NC State Student-faculty ratio 13:1 The Chancellor’s Faculty Excellence Program brings some of the best and brightest minds to join NC State at a Glance University’s interdisciplinary efforts to solve some of the globe’s most significant problems. Guided by a strong North Carolina State University is a large, strategic plan and an aggressive vision, the cluster hiring comprehensive university known for its leadership in program has added 58 new faculty members in 20 select education and research, and is globally recognized for fields to add more breadth and depth to NC State’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics. already-strong efforts. Interdisciplinary clusters include bioinformatics, personalized medicine and public science As one of the leading land-grant institutions in the 25 faculty are members of the prestigious nation, NC State is committed to playing an active and National Academies vital role in improving quality of life for the citizens of North Carolina, the nation and the world. Rankings Students #1 best value among North Carolina public universities Largest four-year institution in North Carolina SmartAsset.com Largest number of applications from NC students #3 among colleges of veterinary medicine 33,755 students from all 100 NC counties, 52 states U.S. News & World Report and territories, and 115 foreign countries Top 10 best-value public institution in the U.S. 23,847 undergraduate students U.S. News & World Report 9,908 graduate students #9 online MBA nationally 393 veterinary medicine students Princeton Review 1,978 non-degree seeking students 11 graduate programs among the top 30 5,678 undergraduate and 3,136 graduate degrees in their field nationally awarded in 2015-2016 U.S. News & World Report NC State’s college’s collectively offer more than 300 Jenkins Professional MBA among top 20 nationally undergraduate and graduate degree programs U.S. News & World Report 5 History Founded in 1887, NC State—then known as the North Carolina Known as the “People’s University,” NC State has developed College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts—began classes in the into a vital educational and economic resource. A wealth of fall of 1889 with 72 students, six faculty and one building. Today, university outreach and extension programs provide services and the university has nearly 34,000 students, 9,000 faculty and staff education to all sectors of the state’s economy and its citizens. and more than 700 buildings. Consistently ranked a national best value and among the nation’s top 100 public universities, NC State is a pre-eminent research In the early 1900s, two federal programs sparked a new era in institution, attracting top faculty and students from around the extension and outreach work at the college. An agreement with world. Together with our public and private partners, we create the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1909 led to what is now economic, societal and intellectual prosperity. known as the 4-H program. The passage of the Smith-Lever Act in 1914 enabled land-grant colleges to establish state, county and local extension programs to further support their existing demonstration work, leading North Carolina to establish the Educational Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service at State College. Although the term “State College” had been in use for years, the broadening of the school’s teaching, research and extension Leadership activities led the Board of Trustees to officially adopt the name. By the 1920s, State College was beginning to grow beyond its Dr. Randy Woodson is North Carolina State University’s 14th original agricultural and mechanical focus, adding schools of chancellor. He has extensive experience as a member of engineering, science and business, textiles, education and a university faculty and administration with a reputation for graduate school. consensus building throughout his decades long career in higher Despite the difficulties of the Great Depression as well as World education. A nationally recognized leader in bridging the gap War II, State College made contributions to the war effort by between vision and action, he has led the development and hosting a number of military detachments and training exercises, implementation of the university’s strategic plan to improve and refitting the work of several departments and programs student success, faculty excellence, and engagement and to military and defense purposes. The campus experienced economic development. unparalleled growth during the postwar years as the G.I. Bill Dr. Woodson received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in brought thousands of former servicemen to campus. horticulture from the University of Arkansas and Cornell In the following decades, the college continued to expand its University, respectively, specializing in plant physiology. curricula, creating schools of design, forestry, physical science He has contributed a wide body of knowledge to his field with and mathematics, and humanities and social sciences. During research covering topics such as plant genetics, molecular these years of growth, the name was changed again—this time biology, biotechnology and sustainable bioproducts development. to North Carolina State University at Raleigh. His work has been published in over 100 journal articles and book The university celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1987, which chapters. His research has been featured in stories published in also saw the creation of Centennial Campus. Centennial brings Businessweek, The Futurist and Discover. together university and corporate leaders to engage in teaching, research and economic development. 6 Hillsborough Traditions Hillsborough Street is located along the border of North Campus. It links the city of Raleigh and the NC State community seamlessly while providing entertainment and services vital to our students. It’s no wonder that many of NC State’s most treasured traditions take place on Hillsborough Street. Check out pages 24-25 for venues on Hillsborough Street. Memorial Bell Tower Since its completion in 1937, the Memorial Bell Tower has stood as a symbol of identity for North Carolina State University, a timekeeper for tradition and a perpetual memorial to NC State students who gave their lives in defense of their country. As well Packapalooza as a memorial, the tower is a rallying point for students, faculty, One of NC State’s most cherished traditions is WolfPack Welcome staff, alumni and members of the university community. Week, where the incoming class is welcomed with open arms. The Belltower is lit for holidays that honor our veterans, such as Each day of the week is filled with events and activities to help new Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day, and to celebrate NC State’s students acclimate to the NC State community. The cap-stone proudest occasions and achievements such as: commencement, event each year is Packapalooza, an all-day block party and street Founder’s Day, athletic victories and academic awards. festival showcasing the best of NC State from sustainability, to arts, from academics to inflatables, games and of course great music. Homecoming Homecoming provides a weeklong series of traditions and community events that capture the things our students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends hold dear. Whether you’re an NC State student, graduate or fan, Homecoming is your chance to show that you bleed Wolfpack Red. The night before the big game is celebrated in style with a Homecoming parade down Hillsborough Street. Campus clubs, local organizations, sororities, fraternities, bands and special VIPS march down Hillsborough Street to pump up the Pack with true Wolfpack spirit. Krispy Kreme Challenge Started in 2004 as a dare between a few students, the Krispy Kreme Challenge not only tests participants physical stamina but also their intestinal fortitude. Competitors run two and a half miles to the nearest Krispy Kreme on Peace Street where they down a dozen doughnuts, and then run back, all in an hour to complete the challenge. Proceeds from the race go to the North Carolina Children’s Hospital. Participants sign up as a challenger, casual runner, doughnut supporter or volunteer. The race has become one of the most recognizable events at NC State and was featured in Sports Illustrated magazine‘s ”102 More Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate” and NC State’s “54 Things to do at NC State.” 9 Undergraduate Admissions Diversity NC State receives both freshman and transfer student NC State welcomes all people regardless of ethnicity, race, applications each year from across the state of North Carolina, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic the United States, and internationally. The admissions office background, religion or disability. While these categories may employs a holistic approach in reviewing students’ applications. be important parts of our identities, they aren’t the whole story. Competitive freshman applicants take a rigorous curriculum Instead, we choose to be defined by our excellence and our and maintain a strong GPA throughout high school. The most commitment to growth. Because diversity is what makes our competitive transfer applicants have at least 30 hours of lives richer and gives us the chance to advance our university, NC transferable credits and meet their requested program’s unique State strives to be more diverse in hopes of creating a culture that GPA and course recommendations.