Students apparently are clamoring to get into Durham's historically black university -- the school admitted 3,527 men and women for the fall term, nearly two-thirds more than for the fall of 2008. And when students' acceptances of their admission sorted out last week, the university had 1,347 first-time students, more than 30 percent more than last fall.
And the record influx of students -- this is the largest freshman class in the school's 100-year-history -- has boosted total enrollment to 8,501, well above targets set by the state university system.
Meanwhile, coincidentally, the university's ambitious if resource-thin art museum this past weekend opened a major exhibit of works by Gastonia-based artist James Biggers. Biggers, a 1970 graduate of NCCU (hence the "Returning Home" title of the exhibit), has moved through several techniques in his art career. His work, says NCCU museum director Kenneth Rodgers, demonstrates "the restless nature of artists who master a technique and move on to another."
Significantly, the Biggers show marks the first of several major shows to be held during this centennial year, Rodgers says.
In this landmark anniversary year, NCCU is continuing to work toward implementing an ambitious master plan to expand the landlocked campus, while working through the reservations of some surrounding neighborhoods.
And later this year, it will host an important conference on the role in today's society of historically black colleges and universities -- HBCUs. Charlie Nelms, entering his second year as NCCU's no-nonsense, focused chancellor, clearly sees NCCU as playing a key role in helping to define HBCUs' still-vital role in a higher-education environment where schools that once admitted only whites are now fully integrated.
Nelms is committed to raising expectations at NCCU, expecting students and the university to collaborate in ensuring that most of those who enroll graduate. He has worked hard to improve the first-impression look of the campus, and he is dedicated to getting more black males -- an underrepresented demographic -- in the school.
As NCCU embarks on its second hundred years, much may remain to be done, but clearly, much has been accomplished, as the past few days reflect.
