North Carolina State University at Raleigh

1533 South Main St., Winston Salem, NC

North Carolina State University at Raleigh (NC State) is ranked in the top 50 U.S. public universities, and number three in the U.S. among public universities that receive funding for research.  Research is a foundation of the academic culture at NC State, and 70 percent of the university's faculty conduct research. Many graduate students are supported by research funding.

NC State has its primary campuses located in Raleigh, North Carolina, which is considered one of the best places to live and work in the U.S.  The university's campuses - Main Campus (comprised of South, Central, North, West and East campuses) and Centennial Campus - are located in a region that boasts some of the country's top technology, research and pharmaceutical companies.

Known as "the People's University," NC State is the largest university in North Carolina, with more than 8,000 faculty and staff.  Since many of its classes are large, the university has a policy of providing smaller discussion groups and labs so students get more learning opportunities.  NC State has established the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, which provides research-based information to statewide communities.

History

Established in 1887 and opened in 1889, North Carolina State University began as the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.  In the 1900s, the school established the Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service at State College, which led to many more extension programs, research and outreach work and, eventually, to an official name change.  The curricula expanded greatly over the years, moving far beyond agriculture and mechanic arts to offer all major academic disciplines and to receive top ranking in a number of disciplines.

Academics

NC State has 12 colleges and schools offering all major academic disciplines. Through its history, NC State has been a leading university in agriculture, forestry, wood and paper science, engineering, textiles, veterinary medicine and design. It is also strong in all the sciences, including nanotechnology, biotechnology, biomedical engineering, and computer science.  NC State also has strong departments in the humanities and social sciences and mathematics, among others.

NC State's state-of-the-art research programs are among its highlights, offering students the opportunity to work on campus and off with leading researchers in many fields. NC State has made many important research discoveries, with roughly 660 patents to its credit. Some of NC State's "firsts" include the prototype for the artificial retina, and the first synthetic aorta.

Colleges and Schools

The 12 colleges and schools of NC State University are:

• College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• College of Design
• College of Education
• College of Engineering
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Poole College of Management
• College of Natural Resources
• College of Physical Mathematical Sciences
• College of Textiles
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• First Year College
• Graduate School

Athletics

The NC State University's athletics teams are known as the "Wolfpacks" or "Packs" for short. North Carolina State University teams have won two NCAA national championships and two AIAVV titles, among others.  NC State competes in 23 intercollegiate sports.

The school also offers 45 different club sports to NC State students, including 18 intramural leagues for all skill levels.

Student Life

Known as the "People's College," NC State has more than 400 organizations and activities for students to get involved in.  The myriad categories include:

• Arts & cultural activities
• Academic organizations & honorary societies
• Service groups
• Graduate student associations
• Peer group, lifestyle & diversity initiatives
• Political & social action groups
• Professional & career support
• Religious & spiritual organizations
• Special interest opportunities
• Sports, recreation & leisure activities
• Student governing boards
• Student media & publications

There are also many leadership opportunities through NC State's service-learning programs and community service initiatives that integrate community work with academics.

Year-round arts and entertainment programs and activities are also available for students and faculty.  There are arts organizations and exhibits, on-campus cinema, media outlets, theatres, crafts centers, dance performances, music performances and the summer TheatreFest.

The Division of Student Affairs at NC State offers support and services to students through many extracurricular recreational activities.

There are many choices for on-campus housing at NC State including residence halls at East, West and Central campuses.  There are also the "Living and Learning Villages," which are residence halls devoted to grouping students with similar lifestyle or academic interests.  The Wolf Village Apartments, Western Manor and E.S. King Village are conveniently located off-campus apartment complexes for married students.

Fraternities and Sororities

There are many fraternities and sororities open to students on the NC State campus.  There are local chapters of national organizations as well as many "social" groups who are involved in a variety of leadership, service, academic and social activities.

The school has issued a warning that the Zeta Psi fraternity has been suspended from the university for being found responsible for hazing and alcohol violations, among other infractions.

Traditions

Holladay Hall, which was built in 1889, was the first campus building for NC State and is still considered its "main building."

The "Free Expression Tunnel," a tunnel that connects two halves of NC State's Central Campus, was established in the 1960's as a place where students could express themselves through wall graffiti.

NC State's school colors are red and white, although the original school colors were pink and blue.

The school mascot became the "Wolfpack" in 1922 after its students were described as behaving like a "wolf pack" at sporting events.

An NC State student wrote the words to the school's fight song in 1926:

NCSU Fight Song
Shout aloud to the men who will play the game to win
We're behind you, keep fighting for State---
Hold that line, hold 'em fast,
We'll reach victory at last
We're behind you, keep fighting for State---
Rise up to the fray and let your colors wave,
Shout out for dear old N.C. State --GO STATE!
And where-e'er we go,
we'll let the whole world know,
We're behind you, keep fighting for State.

Community Life

NC State is a land-grant institution and, as such, it encourages and promotes community involvement in every department through extension programs, engagement initiatives, economic development efforts and many partnerships with outside organizations.