Provost’s Corner: March 2018

Dear faculty and staff,

We’ve got quite a bit to celebrate at NC State, from our people to the special places that make this campus unique.

This year, the beloved Brickyard (formally University Plaza) turns 50. Many of you make a trek through the Brickyard part of your daily routine, but this hallowed space holds a special spot in the university’s history. The Brickyard was formally dedicated on March 7, 1968 — our 81st Founder’s Day, and has hosted numerous memorable events ever since.

While we recognized NC State’s 131st Founder’s Day this past week, we also had much more to celebrate. The university again ranks among the nation’s top institutions producing Fulbright Scholars — faculty members selected to travel abroad to teach or conduct research for up to a year through the nation’s flagship educational exchange program. This year, eight of our faculty received these prestigious awards.

Five faculty members received CAREER awards, the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious honor for early-career researchers. We also announced NC State’s 2017-2018 class of University Faculty Scholars. The 20 recipients represent early- and mid-career faculty dedicated to serving the university community and their respective fields through scholarship, research and engagement. In addition to individual achievements, we’re also experiencing collective success in several areas.

NC State made Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Employers for Diversity” and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education ranked the university sixth in the nation for bachelor’s degrees awarded to African-American students and twenty-first for master’s degrees awarded to African-American students. We’re also celebrating diversity with a wide array of programming marking March’s Women’s History Month. This year’s theme, “Unapologetically Women: Forging and Healing Our Collective Memories,” focuses on the right of women to be themselves without apology and acknowledges the many different paths and perspectives that comprise women’s perspectives and lived experiences.

I’m proud of how we continue to Think and Do here at NC State. From awards celebrating our achievements to events that help us envision a better future, we’re moving further toward fulfilling our mission of comprehensive excellence.

To keep up with all academic and faculty- or staff-related developments, follow @NCStateProvost on Twitter.

Until next time,

Warwick Arden
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost