North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has taken advantage of a significant opportunity to reorganize its academic programming while positioning the institution to award degrees that support careers of the future, meet the objectives of A&T Preeminence 2020 and increase its competitiveness in the global marketplace.

As a doctoral, higher research, land-grant institution, the university continues to grow to meet the demands of an ever-changing world. For more than 125 years, A&T has implemented and developed diverse academic programs across science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), agriculture, business, education, arts and humanities, social sciences and more.

The rationale for the academic reorganization is to increase undergraduate and graduate enrollment, faculty research and scholarly productivity, external funding, the number of students receiving national fellowships, as well as program and university national and international rankings.

Over a two-year period, the Office of the Provost facilitated a program analysis. A four-member External Review Committee (ERC), comprised of current and former university faculty and administrators, was charged with providing recommendations that would greatly enhance student success (retention and progression toward graduation); provide more opportunity for innovative teaching, research and engagement; strengthen and enhance the visibility of academic programs; enhance synergy and collaboration in curriculum and research; and provide effective and efficient use of resources.

The ERC submitted a report that resulted from its analysis of university data as well as input from faculty, staff, students and other stakeholders. The report was submitted to the Internal Academic Restructuring Steering Committee (IARSC), comprised of representatives from each college and school, undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff senates, and the library. In turn, the IARSC was charged with responding to the ERC report, identifying new programs consistent with market and enrollment trends, identifying existing programs inconsistent with market and enrollment trends, and developing framework for the ongoing review of academic programs.

The IARSC’s recommendations were presented to stakeholders via town hall meetings, chancellor’s forums and university communications. The following eight recommendations were reviewed and approved by the N.C. A&T Board of Trustees on Feb. 19, 2016, and the University of North Carolina Board of Governors on April 15:

• Utilize a uniform naming convention for academic units reporting directly to the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs (i.e., colleges instead of colleges and schools)
  

• Create the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  

• Create the College of Health and Human Sciences
  

• Create the College of Science and Technology
  

• Reorganize the School of Education (to become a college that also
  includes Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and licensure coordinators)
  

• Align licensure concentrations under their disciplinary bachelor’s degrees (e.g., the physics licensure would be a concentration under the physics degree program)
  

• Explore areas of opportunity in doctoral programming (e.g., agriculture and environmental sciences, social work, bioengineering)
  

• Conduct ongoing academic program analyses based on productivity, relevance and student demographics

Also in April, an Executive Transition Team (ETT)—representatives from Business and Finance, Information Technology Services, Advancement, Academic Affairs, Human Resources, Facilities, Faculty Senate, Staff Senate, Student Affairs, Division of Research and Economic Development, University Relations and Enrollment Management—was formed to implement the reorganization. The expectation is that the reorganization will do the following:

• Capitalize on the synergy among similar disciplines;
  

• Increase competitiveness of academic programs;
  

• Cultivate collaboration and interdisciplinary research;
  

• Generate greater visibility for programs in agriculture, liberal arts and more;
  

• Simultaneously build upon our strong foundation of STEM- related programming;
  

• Enhance synergy and collaboration in curriculum and research;
  

• Provide effective and efficient use of resources;
  

• Foster operational efficiencies and institutional performance; and
  

• Create opportunities for new and innovative programming.

Today’s college students are expected to graduate from their respective institutions poised to meet challenges and create innovative solutions to complex problems in the global marketplace. To ensure graduates of North Carolina A&T State University are prepared, the university has reorganized its academic enterprise.

N.C. A&T’s academic model now has a uniform designation of eight colleges, which means all schools (e.g., the School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences) are now colleges (i.e., the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences). The only exception is the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.

The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and the College of Business and Economics (COBE) remain largely unaltered with minor exceptions. Licensure concentrations are now aligned under their disciplinary baccalaureate degrees. Academic programs will be analyzed on an ongoing basis for productivity, relevance and student demographics to determine viability.

The Graduate College (TGC) also remains largely unaltered with minor exceptions. Academic programs will be analyzed on an ongoing basis for productivity, relevance and student demographics to determine viability.

The College of Engineering (COE) and the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering (JSNN) are unaltered in the new academic structure. JSNN retains its school designation due to branding considerations and joint nature with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Three new colleges have been created: College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS), the College of Science and Technology (COST) and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS). The overall expectation is that these new colleges will capitalize on the synergy among similar disciplines; increase competitiveness of academic programs; cultivate collaboration and interdisciplinary research; generate greater visibility for programs in agriculture, liberal arts and more; and simultaneously build upon our strong foundation of STEM-related programming.

CHHS capitalizes on interactive relationships among the Departments of Human Performance and Leisure Studies, Psychology, Social Work and Sociology, and the School of Nursing. The Department of Human Performance and Leisure Studies has moved from the former School of Education and the Departments of Psychology and Social Work and Sociology moved from the former College of Arts and Sciences. 

COST assembles the Departments of Applied Engineering Technology, Built Environment, Computer Systems Technology and Graphic Design Systems from the current School of Technology with the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Energy and Environmental Systems, Physics, and Mathematics from the former College of Arts and Sciences. COST aims to enhance science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduate production in areas of national and state need, and will create a synergistic environment that enhances the transition of research from the laboratory to marketplace. In addition, COST aligns with A&T’s STEM-focused mission.

As part of the reorganization, the licensure concentrations for teaching in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics have been moved to their respective departments.

CAHSS is designed to raise visibility of programs and enhance the quantity of students matriculating through programs and moving into the workforce and graduate studies. The new college houses the Departments of English, History, Journalism and Mass Communication, Liberal Studies, Political Science and Criminal Justice, and Visual and Performing Arts. Licensure concentrations for teaching in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics have been moved to their respective departments. 

The departmental structure within the College of Education (CEd) will facilitate increased production and higher quality of pre-K through secondary education teachers. CEd is composed of the Departments of Administration and Instructional Services, Leadership Studies and Adult Education, Counseling, and Educator Preparation. Coupled with the reorganization within the college is a multi-college governance structure required to produce high-quality secondary education teachers, including high-demand STEM secondary teachers, in collaboration with the Colleges of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; Business and Economics; Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; and Science and Technology. The new governance structure also supports enhancement to the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) entry route for K-12 teachers. 

The Graduate College (TGC) remains largely unaltered with minor exceptions. Academic programs will be analyzed on an on-going basis for productivity, relevance and student demographics to determine viability.