North Carolina State University. University Archives

North Carolina State University was established in 1887 as the North Carolina College for Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The College opened in 1889 with one building - the current Holladay Hall - six faculty, and courses in the agricultural and mechanical arts, adding a curriculum in applied science in 1893. By the turn of the century the College had grown to some half dozen buildings, about 300 students, and had begun to diversify its curricula. In 1931 the College greatly reworked its curricula as it underwent consolidation. Along with North Carolina College for Women and the University of North Carolina, it became a part of the Consolidated University of North Carolina, an arrangement that still exists. During the second half of the century, the College received university status, and, after some controversy, assumed its current name in 1965.

The Alumni Association of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanics Arts (North Carolina State University) was organized in June 1895, two years after the graduation of the first class. The association has worked from those earliest days to anticipate and fulfill the needs of the university. In 1987, as the university celebrated its centennial anniversary, the Alumni Association sponsored construction of the Alumni Centennial Gateway on Western Boulevard. The Alumni Association hosts various events including Homecoming, Legacy Luncheons, and Class Reunions. The mission of the NC State Alumni Association is to engage alumni and friends through programs and services that foster pride and enhance a lifelong connection to NC State.

In keeping with the land-grant tradition of the University, Continuing and Professional Education offers noncredit education and training to the people of North Carolina. CPE encompasses three sub-units: Office of Professional Development, The Computer Training Unit, and McKimmon Conference and Training Center, focusing on the development, facilitation, and delivery of continuing education and professional programs for business, industry, and other organizations. Broad-based national conferences on a variety of timely topics as well as intensive, highly focused seminars and workshops take advantage of the very best campus as well as non-campus instructional resources, while up-to-date computer training is also available on a variety of different levels and on a wide range of topics. Special efforts are made to meet the training needs of industry and government agencies through general as well as customized offerings. The university awards Continuing Education Units to participants in qualified programs. CEUs are part of a nationwide system that provides a uniform measure of attainment in noncredit educational programs.

North Carolina State University was established in 1887 as the North Carolina College for Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The College opened in 1889 with one building - the current Holladay Hall - six faculty, and courses in the agricultural and mechanical arts, adding a curriculum in applied science in 1893. By the turn of the century the College had grown to some half dozen buildings, about 300 students, and had begun to diversify its curricula. In 1931 the College greatly reworked its curricula as it underwent consolidation. Along with North Carolina College for Women and the University of North Carolina, it became a part of the Consolidated University of North Carolina, an arrangement that still exists. During the second half of the century, the College received university status, and, after some controversy, assumed its current name in 1965.

The North Carolina College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts was founded as the state's land-grant institution in 1887, and formally opened its doors two years later. After a number of name changes, in 1965 the institution was renamed North Carolina State University (officially the North Carolina State University at Raleigh).