In the latest ranking of colleges and universities by U.S. News & World Report, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the top historically black college or university in the state of North Carolina for the third consecutive year.

The online news provider ranked N.C. A&T No. 10 out of 69 historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the 2015 rankings released on Sept. 9. To qualify for the U.S. News ranking, an HBCU also must be an undergraduate baccalaureate-granting institution that enrolls primarily first-year, first-time students and must be a school that is currently part of the 2015 Best Colleges rankings.

The HBCUs are compared only with each other on the criteria of retention, faculty resources, faculty salary, student selectivity, financial resources and alumni giving.

“We are pleased to maintain our position as the No. 1 HBCU in North Carolina for the third consecutive year and to be ranked among the top 10 HBCUs nationwide,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “We will continue to aggressively assess our performance as we push toward the fulfillment of our strategic plan, A&T Preeminence 2020.”

N.C. A&T, which is classified as doctoral-research university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, also ranked: No. 15 in the Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs; in the top third of the High School Counselor Rankings; and the top two-thirds of the Industrial/Manufacturing/Systems Engineering concentration rankings of the Best Engineering Schools on the graduate level.

To see additional rankings, visit A&T’s page on the U.S. News & World Report website.

On Sept. 18, the University Employee Campaign (UEC) and the State Employees Combined Campaign (SECC) will kick off for this year. This year’s combined goal is $250,000 with $185,000 for UEC and $65,000 for SECC.

“Naturally, we want to support our community agencies and there is a need for the money to remain at our university,” said Carletta Simmons, director of annual giving and chair of the UEC.

Last year, university staff, faculty and retirees raised $308,000. Of that amount, $61,000 was applied to the SECC and the remainder went directly to the university to the designation of the donors' choices.

“Every gift made counts and we count every gift made during the fiscal year from July 1 through June 30,” Simmons said.

The university has participated in the SECC campaign for well over a decade, said Joyce Edwards, director of the Office of Career Services  and chair of the SECC campaign. Until recent years, North Carolina A&T State University used to be an eligible community agency to receive funding through the SECC campaign.

“Now, there are two separate campaigns that separate the university giving from the community giving,” Edwards said. “The whole premise has always been to give to the different areas that are in need. The process has changed but not the intent.”

While funds raised for the UEC support scholarships, departmental programs, etc., on campus, SECC funds go into the community to support those outside groups and organizations that people are most passionate about.

“Charities throughout North Carolina have to apply to be a part of SECC. All of us or a family member has had an opportunity to use some of the services that are provided by one of some of these agencies and it’s important that we give back,” Edwards said.

Employees have until Dec. 5 to make pledges to the combined campaign and fulfill those pledges a number of different ways.

“Payroll deduction is our most popular method of giving but we take cash, credit cards, stock gifts, there is an option to give online or you can come by the office, call me or drop it in the mail,” Simmons said.

“We’re looking forward to a great, successful year. No gift is too small. Collectively, we all make a difference in our community and on our campus.”

For additional information, contact Carletta Simmons at 336-334-7600 or gcsimmon@ncat.edu.

In a few short weeks, North Carolina A&T State University will be home to one of the country’s few standalone centers for veteran’s services, the Aggie Student V.E.T.S. Center at the Oaks.

“The contractors are still working on the facility. I’m hoping we will get to have our grand opening at the end of this month,” said Joshua Jones, director of Veterans and Disability Support Services (VDSS) and a retired lieutenant colonel.

The center will be housed in the former chancellor’s residence, The Oaks, located near Noble Hall, the Dudley Building and Morrison Hall.

“V.E.T.S. is an acronym for Veteran’s Educational Transition Support. We are creating a one-stop shop for the more than 500 students who are veterans and veteran dependents that we serve,” Jones said.

VDSS is currently located in Murphy Hall and provides support to not only veterans and veteran dependents but to those students who need to utilize disability services. When the new center is open, logistics will change.

“Our administrative support will remain in Murphy Hall and the Aggie V.E.T.S. Center will specifically serve vets and dependent students,” Jones said.

The center will provide a place for students to learn about all of the opportunities and services available to them as well as provide computer labs and a safe gathering space for the often non-traditional students who utilize the services.

In the future, Jones plans to start a N.C. A&T chapter of Student Veterans of America and partner with resources on campus like the Office of Career Services to prepare them for their next steps.

“We want to ensure they make the smooth transition from boots to books,” Jones said. “We want to provide them with help on their resumes, workshops to teach them how to interview and successfully match them with everything they need.”

In addition to services for students, Jones said the center will aim to provide quarterly programming for the local community to support their fellow veterans and to build and foster relationships outside the university.

“We are trying to bridge the gap both internally and externally,” Jones said.

This center, Jones said, will build upon the university’s distinction as a Military Friendly School.

“When vets are looking at the schools to attend, they will see that we cater to vets. It helps us to highlight that we care about our vets and that we want to help them move forward to their next endeavor,” Jones said.

Competition for the 2014-15 College of Arts and Sciences Innovation Ventures Fund award(s) is underway.

Now in its fourth year at North Carolina A&T State University, the competition is designed to support collaborative projects that significantly enhance student success and/or research within the university and the College of Arts and Sciences. 

The college intends to present three awards of up to $30,000 each for intra-departmental or inter-departmental projects aimed at increasing student success and/or research. All projects must be collaborative and involve at least two members of the faculty. Awards will be announced Tuesday, Oct. 7.

This internal funding project was initiated in 2012 and has awarded 10 grants that range in scope.

A two-stage review process is being used to assess the proposals. An internal review will assess completeness and accuracy of the proposal and an external review will assess the following: project relevance; innovation; extent of collaboration; impact on student success or research contribution; plan for professional development; and extent to which the project will serve as a seed for future funding or program change.

For more information about the ventures fund award, contact Donna Bradby, director of marketing and publicity for the N.C. A&T College of Arts and Sciences, at 336-285-3475 or dbbradby@ncat.edu.