NC State is now pushing for instructors to be educated and hold degrees in different fields rather than only in their specific area of expertise according to Chancellor Randy Woodson.
Woodson spoke about NC State’s accomplishments since the spring and this year’s goals during his annual fall address in the Talley Ballroom on Wednesday.
Curriculum was also a topic of discussion during the address. Woodson said the NC State curriculum requires students to have more rounded educations because of interdisciplinary credit requirements.
“I think the push for interdisciplinary actions on and with campus are interesting and important,” said Chris Becker, a senior at NC State. “I think it will be difficult for NC State but rewarding and worthwhile to have well-rounded students.”
He told the story of his time flying on Air Force One with President Barack Obama shortly after the president visited NC State in January. Woodson said he was sitting next to the presidents from Harvard and Vanderbilt University when Obama began telling the other college presidents about what NC State was accomplishing. Woodson said he was shocked to hear the president bragging about NC State.
Woodson applauded all faculty members during the address.
“[NC State] works hard to find excellent instructors and tries even harder to keep them,” Woodson said.
The address reviewed the 10-year plan, Pathway to the Future, which began in 2011 and has not only been the main reason why NC State has received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions, but has also helped strengthen NC State as a community and driven new lines of pride, Woodson said.
“Momentum has never been stronger at NC State,” Woodson said.
One of these recognitions will come in the form of a $2 million grant from the US Department of Education for the Northeast Leadership Academy of NC State.
Additionally, NC State’s Department of Horticultural Science will receive $12 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to study the genetics of sweet potatoes to make them easier to grow in places such as Africa where affordable crops grow in large quantities.
Woodson also said retention rates and graduation rates at the university are rising, and the past few freshmen classes have had the highest high school GPAs and SAT scores in university history.
INSIGHT Into Diversity, the oldest and largest diversity magazine in higher education, gave NC State one of 88 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity awards for 2014. Woodson also said the university was named a national leader in promoting diversity and inclusion.
“The chancellor spoke highly to the wonderful accomplishments of the NC State community from students to staff,” said Catie Trimble, a graduate student studying higher education administration.
Woodson acknowledged three athletes for their recent accomplishments. Nick Gwiazdowski, a junior in parks, recreation and tourism management, won the NCAA championship, and former NC State baseball players Trea Turner and Carlos Rodon were picked during the first day of the MLB Draft (rounds one through six).
“Making goals is easy; making them happen takes relentless energy and effort,” Woodson said.
According to Woodson, with all these accomplishments, NC State is becoming a brand name, and as a school, it is proving itself to be noteworthy.
Woodson said the next steps in continuing with Pathway to the Future include “cultivating excellence, enhancing student and faculty success and increasing the institutional effect while growing.”
