Page 13 - NCAT Magazine Fall 2018
P. 13

11
 caMPUs highlights



 No.        enrollMent SurPaSSeS 12,000

 iN tHe NatioN
                                                                                     include even more emphasis placed
            Carolina A&T has enrolled its largest
                                                 demographic group. A&T is expected
 for best oNliNe scHools   For the third consecutive year, North   student level and racial/ethnic   key performance indicators also
                                                                                     on student success, affordability,
 for WoMeN iN steM  student body in university history,   to remain the nation’s largest, four-  diversity and recognition.
            as well as what is likely its most
                                                 year historically black university for
 (Guide to Online Schools)  academically accomplished.  the fifth consecutive year.
                                                                                     This fall’s new enrollment report
            On the strength of an entering class   The intentional, steady growth in   comes on the heels of new rankings
            of 2,201 first-year students, N.C.   enrollment is the direct result of a   from Money magazine, which named
 SuMMit bringS tech nation, hbcu   A&T’s student body has expanded   strategic plan put in place in 2011 that   A&T North Carolina’s most affordable
            to 12,142—a 2.2 percent increase over   envisioned a bold future for A&T by   university and ranked its alumni third
 leaderS to n.c. a&t  last year’s enrollment. The entering   2020, including a total enrollment   in the University of North Carolina
            class has an average high school GPA   of 13,500 and 10,000 undergraduate   system in early career earnings.
            of 3.61, average SAT score of 1040   students. A&T surpassed the latter
 and elevate mankind,   As part of the summit,   and ACT score of 20.  goal last year, and undergraduate   The university is also making
 and HBCUs have led the   dozens of companies shared   enrollment this fall exceeds 10,600.  preparations to open its new
 charge to produce great   their own efforts to address   Counting the increase in headcount   $90-million Student Center this
 African-American talent.   those workforce needs in   this fall of nearly 300, A&T has now   Refreshed over the past year, the   month while breaking ground on
 Both sectors have broken   partnership with HBCUs,   added close to 1,600 students over   university’s new strategic plan, A&T   a new residence hall and the $90
 tremendous barriers   which contribute significantly   the past five years, a 15 percent   Preeminence: Taking the Momentum   million Engineering Research and
 individually. Just imagine   to the number of African   expansion of its student body. That   to 2023, projects a student body of   Innovation Complex later this fall.
 what we can do when we   American graduates in STEM   includes growth at nearly every   14,000 by its conclusion. The plan’s
 work together.”  fields. North Carolina A&T,
 for instance, produces more
 Minority representation in   African American engineers
 tech industries lags behind   than any other university in
 their representation in the   America and more African   STEM Early College at N.C. A&T
 overall economy. A study   American master’s grads in
 released by the Brookings   mathematics and statistics.  Earns Three National Recognitions
 Institution earlier this year
 shows African Americans   Summit attendee Danny
 make up about 12 percent of   Allen, vice president of tech   The STEM Early College at N.C. A&T has earned   on performance of state-required tests and college
 all workers, but only about   diversity and inclusion at   three prominent national recognitions of school   readiness. More than 20,500 public high schools
 8 percent of employees   German business software   quality and character across the country.  were accessed nationally. The school placed 179th
 North Carolina A&T’s   and state elected officials   in computer and math   giant SAP SE, told a news      in national rankings and earned a gold medal for
 reputation as a national   including N.C. Gov. Roy   occupations. The gap is   outlet covering the event   First, the STEM Early College at N.C. A&T is   being among the top 500 schools.
 intellectual hub for critical   Cooper and U.S. Rep. David   bigger for Hispanics, who   that “it doesn’t make sense”   among the 300 public and 49 private K-12 schools
 STEM dialogue took on new   Price and representatives of   account for 16.7 percent of   that the tech industry lags   named as a National Blue Ribbon School for 2018   Third, STEM was also named a 2018 National
 visibility Aug. 8-9, when   45 tech industry concerns,   all workers, 6.8 percent in   behind on hiring people of   by the U.S. Department of Education on Oct. 1.   School of Character by Character.org, a non-profit
 some 200 leaders gathered   such as Google, Apple, Intel,   computer and math fields.   color.  Recognition is based on a school’s overall academic   organization that validates character initiatives in
 in Greensboro for the first   HP, Facebook, Nielsen and   performance or progress in closing achievement   schools and communities around the world. It was
 HBCU Bipartisan Caucus   many more.  There is concern in many   “Who knows who’s going to   gaps among student subgroups. STEM was   one of only 73 U.S. schools in 17 states to receive
 Diversity in Tech Summit.  quarters that those   come out of North Carolina   recognized in the award category of Exemplary   the designation.
 “This summit is a landmark   numbers are trending in   A&T or any other HBCU and   High Performing Schools.
 Organized and hosted by   convening,” Adams told   the wrong direction. And   develop something we’ve      The STEM Early College at A&T is part of the
 U.S. Rep. Alma Adams, co-  attendees and media   tech companies working to   never even thought about.”   Second, in its annual report on the top U.S. public   Guilford County School System.
 founder of the caucus, the   assembled for an event-  address those gaps also face   he said. “You have to have   high schools, U.S. News & World Report has
 two-day event drew senior   opening press conference.   an overall shortage of more   an opportunity. You have to   ranked STEM third among Guilford County high
 administrators from 25 HBCU   “The tech community has   than 1 million workers for   have a place at the table.”    schools and eighth among all North Carolina high
 campuses, dozens of federal   led the push to innovate   STEM jobs.  schools. The report evaluated high schools based




 10 •  N.C. a&t MagaziNe                                                                                      NCat.edu  • 11
   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18