A&T Doubles Down on Student Success with $30M in Campus Housing Enhancements

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (Aug. 13, 2025) – Student Affairs leadership at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University today announced the successful completion of $30 million in student residence improvements, just days before the launch of the 2025-26 academic year.

Improvements include major upgrades to the physical environment, including cleaning and servicing 1,500 HVAC units, completing mold remediation in nearly 420 rooms and finishing more than 60 significant trade projects in plumbing, electrical, locksmithing, roofing and general construction. The university used drone inspections to more efficiently identify buildings and outdoor areas in need of pressure washing and cosmetic repairs.

N.C. A&T created a new category of enhancements called “student satisfaction improvements” and invested $250,000 in things student residents specifically requested, ranging from video game systems to ice machines to student lounge upgrades. Further amenity investments are being guided through student and resident assistant feedback as well as suggestions from student government leadership.

“Students come to our exponential university for a rich and rigorous academic experience. Providing a comfortable, modern living environment underscores the significant role it plays in student success,” said Chancellor James R. Martin II. “The investments we’ve made over the past year in our residence halls and apartments reflect our commitment, and I’m looking forward to students experiencing those improvements as they return to campus this weekend for the start of the new year next week.”

A&T also invested significantly in an enhanced internet connection and computer environment. The university upgraded network cabling in six residence halls and added new WiFi access points in 42 apartment buildings around the perimeter of A&T’s main campus to improve connectivity and network performance.

In academic buildings, A&T updated 1,538 computers in student labs, upgraded technology in 46 “smart classrooms” and validated technology in another 208 classrooms to ensure their readiness for the school year.

On the staffing side, A&T filled key student housing positions to support the residential experience, promote student wellness and manage student conduct issues. Those staffers and others will use the newly acquired Roompact software platform to facilitate communication, collaboration and task management related to campus housing.

“Students compete to get into A&T housing, and we fully appreciate our responsibility to ensure the housing we provide is attractive, comfortable, safe and healthy,” said John Lowney, Ph.D., executive director of Housing and Residence Life. “What we’ve done over the past 12 months is significant, but by no means the end. Quality improvement for us is a job that’s never done.”

Already America’s largest historically Black university, A&T expects to enroll approximately 15,000 students this fall, with growth projected at the undergraduate and graduate level, particularly in doctoral program enrollment. A&T houses well over 50% of its undergraduate population – double the percentage of the average public university nationwide.

The university is investing in other ways to enhance the student experience. A partnership recently announced with Toyota North Carolina, the Aggie Bridge Initiative, will deploy 10 Toyota employees at A&T this fall to perform a lean analysis of student services and use Toyota’s world-class expertise in process management to improve the university’s processes.