A&T Nets $4.5M Grant to Expand Degree Pathways For Adult Learners

EAST GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 13, 2026) — North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s Extended Campus will significantly expand pathways to degree completion for thousands of former Aggies with the support of a $4.5 million grant from the Gates Foundation.

More than 17,000 career-stage learners began their education at North Carolina A&T but did not complete their degrees. This new investment will help the university re-engage students who’ve paused their studies and provide flexible, student-centered options designed to meet the needs of individuals balancing work, family and other responsibilities.

Through the Extended Campus, N.C. A&T will enhance its infrastructure to better serve career-stage learners, including expanding online and flexible learning options, strengthening student support services and improving re-enrollment pathways for stop-out students. This work will directly support the university’s Forever Learning initiative, reinforcing a commitment to lifetime engagement and the belief that learning should be a lifelong pursuit.

“At North Carolina A&T, we are committed to ensuring that every student who begins their journey with us has a clear and supported path to completion, and we are grateful to the Gates Foundation for supporting that commitment and our students,” said Chancellor James R. Martin II. “By meeting career-stage learners where they are, we are strengthening not only individual futures, but the economic vitality of the communities we serve. Learning is not an event you only experience between 18 and 23. It’s a lifestyle, and we are forever learning.”

This effort reflects the university’s ongoing commitment to access, equity and student success. By focusing on degree completion, A&T aims to support learners in achieving their educational goals while also strengthening workforce readiness and economic mobility across North Carolina and beyond.

The initiative will prioritize outreach to former students, helping them understand that returning to A&T is both possible and supported. With flexible pathways, targeted resources, and a renewed focus on lifetime engagement, the university is creating opportunities for students to re-engage with confidence and complete their academic goals.

“This grant allows us to intentionally reconnect with students who started their journey at A&T and ensure they have clear, accessible pathways to return and finish what they started,” said Regina Williams Davis, Ph.D., assistant vice provost for the Extended Campus. “We recognize that life happens, and this initiative is about removing barriers and creating opportunities for students to complete their degrees on their terms.”

A&T remains a national leader in advancing access to higher education and is committed to building innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of today’s learners.