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ACCESS Summary

Overall Score: .76

Campus History:

On March 7, 1887 the Morrill Land-Grant Act resulted in a land grant institution by the name of North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts--later to become known as North Carolina State University. While it was founded in 1887, the first class was not taught until 1889, when there were 71 male students. Tuition for these students was a mere 130 dollars per year. At the time the majority of these students were North Carolina tradesmen and farmers' sons. And in 1972, it was one of the original schools to join the University of North Carolina school system.

Student and Faculty Population:

At North Carolina State University, there are approximately 29,957 students seeking degrees. In the freshman class in 2004, about 43 percent were female while the remaining 57 percent were male. Caucasians accounted for 80 percent, while African Americans accounted for 10 percent; Native Americans for 1 percent; Asians for 4 percent, Hispanics for 3 percent; and other categories for 1 percent. The only group in which there were more males than females was for African Americans, where females accounted for .2 percent more of the population. 16 percent of these students were enrolled in the college of Agriculture and life science; 2 percent in the School of Design; 2 percent in Education; 31 percent in Engineering; 3 percent in Natural Resources; 10 percent in Physical and Math Sciences; 3 percent in Textiles; 8 percent in Management; and the remaining 18 percent were undecided.

To accommodate all of these students North Carolina State University has around 7,000 employees. About 1,800 of these employees are faculty, with 1,600 of them full-time. This means there are about 16 students for every teacher. Some of the professors belong to prestigious groups such as the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. Many also are fellows in their respective areas of study.

Location, Weather and Topography:

North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina. This is in the piedmont region of North Carolina, so there are a few hills, but it is mainly comprised of flat land. Usually the warmest month is July, which has an average temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit. The highest temperature ever measured in Raleigh was 105 degrees Fahrenheit which was in 1952. January is generally the coldest month, in which the average low is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. January also brings the most precipitation, generally averaging about 4.46 inches.

Disability Services on Campus:

As of fall 2005, the office in charge of providing services for students with disabilities at North Carolina State University is the Disability Compliance Office (DCO), which is headed by the Associate Vice Provost of Disability, Cheryl R. Branker, Ed. D., CCC-SLP. The office not only enforces compliance for students, but also for faculty. Dr. Branker also has five assistants in charge of areas such as provision of services for students with different types of disabilities, coordination of assistive technology, and other programs and administrative duties. Because studies have shown that students with disabilities have a lower college graduation rate than those without, the DCO is dedicated to providing complete access to those with disabilities, including access to the proper physical, policy/programmatic, information, and attitudinal environments. One way they try to ensure that access is available and that students with disabilities have a normal experience at state is by providing training to the residential advisors, orientation counselors, and professors about how to accommodate such students.