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2015 Enrollment Plan: Guiding Principles N C State University

Capitalizing on our strengths and emphasizing our competitive advantages in science, engineering and technology, NC State seeks to enhance its recognition as a leading global institution.  NC State believes that achieving this goal depends on building quality at the core of the educational experience through creative and responsible use of resources.  Thus, NC State will adhere to the following guiding principles.

1. As one of two research-extensive institutions in the UNC system, NC State will give highest priority to increasing graduate enrollment in a sustainable and interdisciplinary way.  This strategy is central to maintaining national visibility and it is essential to attracting the highest quality faculty for our students.  Accordingly, NC State will:
• develop new professional programs in both strategic and emerging disciplines to address unmet demand in the state and nation
• capitalize on emerging research to drive research-based graduate program development
• develop high quality, sustainable distance education programs
• actively seek a rich diversity among graduate students (i.e., gender, racial, ethnic, geographic, disciplinary, cultural, and intellectual diversity)
• serve additional students by leveraging university resources through partnerships with other organizations


2. At the undergraduate level, NC State will give priority to improving the quality of the educational experience by enrolling a diverse and highly qualified student body.  NC State will maintain the largest undergraduate enrollment of all UNC system institutions.  Although resource limitations constrain our ability to fully meet the demand for an NC State education, the University will improve its capacity through improved graduation rates, partnerships with other institutions, and degree-completion, distance education programs.  To these ends, NC State will:
• actively seek increased national visibility for the quality of NC State's undergraduate programs
• sustain access to unique programs for NC Students while developing and marketing additional programs that make NC State a more competitive institution among non-resident students
• actively seek rich diversity among undergraduate students (i.e., gender, racial, ethnic, geographic, disciplinary, cultural, and intellectual diversity)
• leverage undergraduate growth to augment the future applicant pool for graduate programs by enlarging the pool of highly qualified graduate applicants and by developing dual bachelors/master's degree programs
• partner with four-year institutions, community colleges and other organizations to serve more students
• continue collaborating with NC Community College System in developing 2+2 transfer programs
• admit out-of-state students consistent with the UNC Board of Governors' mandate that their qualifications exceed those of in-state students


3. NC State will meet the educational needs of North Carolinians seeking educational opportunities outside of degree programs, as resources permit.  NC State will:
• emphasize opportunities for those with aspirations for degrees, certificates, or professional licensure
• actively encourage enrollment of non-degree-seeking students with diverse backgrounds (i.e., gender, racial, ethnic, geographic, disciplinary, cultural, and intellectual diversity)
• focus non-degree growth in support of growth and excellence in graduate education by helping non-degree students to matriculate into degree programs at NC State