National Engineers Week will be observed February 20–26 by over 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Engineering at North Carolina A&T State University. The theme is “7 billion people. 7 billion dreams. 7 billion chances for engineers to turn dreams into reality.”

A host of activities and programs are planned for university and K-12 students, faculty, staff and professionals, kicking off with an opening ceremony at noon on Monday, Feb. 20, in McNair Hall Auditorium.

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Center for Energy Research and Technology will host its third annual Energy Day celebration for students in grades 6-12. More than 700 middle and high school students are expected to participate in this pre-college initiative that is designed to expose them to energy related sources and technologies. Exhibits and hands-on activities will be held in Cherry and Graham Halls, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Among the featured displays are those by Duke Energy, the Center for Energy Research and Technology, and student groups within the College of Engineering.

Additional activities during the week include professional development seminars, an awards banquet and a career fair. The week will culminate with the Order of the Engineer Ceremony, with graduating seniors taking the Oath of Engineering.

National Engineers Week is observed each year during the month of February to highlight the contributions of engineering to society. The celebration coincides with the birthday of President George Washington, who some consider as the nation’s first engineer because of his survey work. Colleges and universities, government agencies, corporations and professional societies throughout the nation celebrate this event.

For more information about Engineers Week observances at N.C. A&T, contact Leotis L. Parrish at 336-334-7589 or parrishl@ncat.edu. For details about Energy Day, contact Harmohindar Singh at 336-334-7575 or singh@ncat.edu.

When U.S. News & World Report ranked the Top Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs in the country recently, the Master of Science in Information Technology program at North Carolina A&T State University was among those listed.

Over 200 institutions were ranked in a survey using four indicators: Faculty Credential and Training, Student Services and Technology, Student Engagements and Accreditation, and Admissions Selectivity.

The MSIT program, which is housed in the Department of Electronics, Computer and Information Technology within the School of Technology, was recognized in three out of four indicators for a CIT program: Faculty Credentials and Training (No. 7), “Students learn most from faculty with significant academic credentials and experience in teaching online CIT courses”; Student Services and Technology (No. 15), “CIT programs provide students with a wide array of technologies and services such as 24/7 teach support, live tutoring, and specialized apps”; and Student Engagements and Accreditation (No. 19), “The strongest online degree programs for a masters of CIT also have corresponding ABET accredited undergraduate program and make it easy for student to interact with classmates as well as instructors.”

The Master of Science in Information Technology prepares students to pursue technical and managerial careers in all employment sectors. The program emphasizes acquisition of sound theoretical concepts with intensive “hands-on” experience in the area of information technology. 

“We offer our students an opportunity to conduct research in areas such as cloud computing, wireless networking, enterprise computing, computer and network security, and high performance computing,” said Dr. Rajeev Agrawal, assistant professor and graduate program coordinator for the Department of Electronics, Computer and Information Technology at N.C. A&T. “Upon graduation, they seek positions as IT consultants, project managers, network administrators, and system analysts.”

For additional information about the MSIT program, contact Agrawal at 336-334-7717 or ragrawal@ncat.edu.

The Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice will host its eighth annual criminal justice roundtable on four Wednesdays in February and March: Feb. 22, Feb. 29, March 21 and March 28. The hour-long presentations will begin at noon in Bluford Library, room 258.

The roundtable is an opportunity for faculty and students to present research for peer discussion and review. It is also an important aspect of the department’s commitment to undergraduate and faculty research.

Topics and presentations include the following: “Fletcher et al v. Lamone et al: The Political Impact of Prison Gerrymandering”; a student presentation; “Small States and the WTO: An Analysis of the Antiqua-U.S. Internet Gambling Dispute”; and a faculty presentation. James P. Mayes, assistant professor; Dr. Daniel White, professor; Shon F. Barnes, adjunct instructor; and a student, all from the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice, will present the topics.

The mission of the Criminal Justice Program is to foster leadership, encourage research and graduate study and to impact public policy. Essential to achieving this mission is instilling the core values of legacy, integrity and competence.

For further details about the roundtable or the Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice at North Carolina A&T State University, call 336-285-2046.