2021 State Budgetary and Legislative Priorities
For the 2021-23 Biennial Budget
Operating Investments
- Protect and increase doctoral research funding: $7.5 million
The North Carolina General Assembly awarded North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University $2.5 Million recurring dollars for its transition to doctoral research university status in the 2017-19 Budget. This funding is critical to North Carolina A&T mission of focusing on STEM undergraduate and graduate education and research. The university seeks additional recurring funding for investments in faculty, student support and infrastructure.
- State funding to match and exceed federal funding for College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences research and Extension programs: $3 million
- Faculty and Staff Recruitment and Retention Fund
We encourage the General Assembly to create legislation that allows for the creation of efficient and effective human resource policies and practices to attract and retain top faculty and staff, including granting authority to establish performance incentives, recruitment and retention compensation policies for SHRA employees and expansion of an EHRA exemption for financial and IT positions to keep pace with competitive employment markets.
- Support for Centers of Excellence:
- Cybersecurity: The Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity Research and is an inclusive community of stakeholders distinguished by interdisciplinary and innovative approaches that translate knowledge into solutions for cybersecurity challenges.
Thrust Areas:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Capital Investments
- New Life/Health Sciences Building: $100 million
N.C. A&T seeks funding to build a new Life/Health Sciences Building to accommodate continued growth in our College of Health and Human Sciences (CHHS). CHHS capitalizes on the synergistic relationships between the departments of human performance and leisure studies, psychology, sociology and social work, and nursing. The new Life/Health Sciences building will develop advanced academic health science programming, enhance the production of healthcare practitioners as well as faculty research and scholastic activity.
- STEM Buildings Repair and Renovate: $40 million
N.C. A&T is requesting an additional $40 million for repairs and renovations for STEM buildings that will allow us to enhance our recruitment, retention, education and services for students in STEM fields. As the demand for STEM professionals continues to grow, we need to improve our facilities and services to meet the needs of the global workforce.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is the No. 1 producer of African American engineers at the undergraduate level; the No. 2 producer of African American engineers at the master’s level; and the No. 4 producer of African American engineers at the doctoral level.
- Renovate Carver Hall: $18.5 million
N.C. A&T seeks funding to renovate Carver Hall to accommodate continued growth in our College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. As the university strives to become a doctoral institution with “highest research activity,” it is imperative that faculty be supported in generating the research proposals and research funding to help A&T evolve to that level of impact. That includes a research environment appropriate to the requirements of that level of scientific inquiry.
- Land Acquisition: $5 million
N.C. A&T continues to see tremendous growth in enrollment. For the third consecutive year, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has enrolled its largest student body in university history. On the strength of an entering class of 2,201 first-year students, North Carolina A&T’s student body has expanded to 12,556. The entering class has an average high school GPA of 3.61, average SAT score of 1040 and ACT score of 20.