Program Overview

The North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity Through Education (OPT-ED) seeks to substantially enhance the overall effort in North Carolina to increase the number of underrepresented minority* (URM) students receiving PhD degrees in sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and those entering the professoriate. The alliance is lead by North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 OPT-ED program activities at NC A&T are comprised of academic year and summer components.  The academic year program provides support to both first year graduate students as well as those who are about to transition into a PhD program. First year students participate in Transitional Survival Skills Workshops designed to help ease the adjustment into graduate school. Advance Masters and PhD students participate in workshops which provide information that will assist them in completing the PhD program and acquiring knowledge needed for a career in the professoriate.   The summer component, Summer Research Funding Initiative, supports students who are engaged in faculty supervised research during the summer.

 Financial Resources

OPT-ED students receive a small stipend while enrolled in the program.  First year students receive a semester stipend of $2,000 all others receive a semester stipend of $1,000.  Participants also receive financial support in the form of either OPT-ED Scholarship or Graduate School tuition remission.  Summer Research participants are awarded a $4,000 stipend.  Additional financial support is provided for professional development activities, such as attendance at professional conferences and additional training or to cover the cost of research supplies.

 Student Selection Criteria

To be considered for selection, applicants must: Be accepted or enrolled as a full-time graduate student at NCA&T eligible STEM program, be a US citizen or permanent resident, have earned an undergraduate GPA (first semester graduate students) of at least 3.00 out of 4.00 or a graduate GPA of 3.00 or better, and demonstrate a commitment to a PhD and a career in the professoriate.

 Eligible STEM programs

Animal Science Biology  Chemistry Computational Science and Engineering Construction Management Electronics and Computer Technology Energy and Environmental Studies Engineering Food and Nutritional Science

Industrial Technology Manufacturing Systems Mathematics Physics Plant and Soil Science