Willie A. Deese College of Business and Economics
Overview
The Autumn Transportation Academy is an enriching educational program for rising high school juniors and seniors. Autumn 2026 marks its first year under the new name funded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, previously known as the Summer Transportation Institute (STI).
Since its inception in 1993, North Carolina A&T State University’s Transportation Institute (TI) has introduced hundreds of high school students to careers and academic pathways in transportation. Many participants have gone on to successful careers with Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. As the oldest National Summer Transportation Institute program in the nation, N.C. A&T continues to uphold its reputation for delivering an exceptional educational experience.
Historically, the demand for professionals with managerial, technical, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills has far exceeded the supply in the transportation field—and that demand remains strong today. In response, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and N.C. A&T’s Transportation Institute remain committed to recruiting and developing the next generation of transportation leaders.
During the Transportation Academy experience, students are exposed to supply chain management, various modes of transportation, and STEM-related disciplines. The program also emphasizes personal and professional development through classroom instruction, group projects, and experiential learning opportunities such as site visits and field trips.
A typical schedule includes lectures from industry professionals and faculty, interactive group projects, field trips and personal development activities, including communication and leadership training.
Autumn 2026
The 2026 North Carolina Autumn Transportation Academy (NCSTA) is now planned for Friday, November 6, through Sunday, November 8, 2026. This year, the program will be offered as a three-day residential weekend program for up to 16 students in grades 11–12, including two nights of supervised hotel lodging in the Greensboro area. Participants will still experience many aspects of the Aggie environment, including access to campus facilities, hands-on learning, and engagement with faculty and peers. Planned activities include transportation lectures, group projects, a hotel-to-campus transit challenge, and local transportation experiences. Discovery flights and drone or autonomous vehicle demonstrations are planned, subject to vendor and facility availability.
The program will be completely free, including meals, lodging, instructional materials, and travel for all scheduled activities. While extensive planning is conducted in advance—including application review and participant selection—the program remains contingent upon final approval and funding confirmation.
2026 APPLICATION ONLINE FORM
Applications closed on Oct 18. We appreciate your interest and involvement. All applications will be reviewed, and applicants will be notified via email or phone.
Please contact Program Director Dr.Lv with any questions.
Past Institutes
- View a slideshow detailing activities and participants of the 2023 STI program here.
- View a slideshow detailing activities and participants of the 2022 STI program here.
- View a slideshow detailing activities and participants of the 2021 STI program here.
