A&T History
University Founded
The "Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race" was established by an act of the North Carolina General Assembly, becoming the nation's second land-grant institution for people of color.
First Classes Begin
The college began its first session with 37 students at Shaw University in Raleigh. Dr. J.O. Crosby was chosen as the first president.
Move to Greensboro
The college moved to Greensboro, where citizens donated 14 acres of land and $11,000 for buildings. The new campus featured the Administration Building, a dormitory, and a farm.
Name Change
The college's name was changed to the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina by an act of the state legislature.
First Bachelor's Degrees
The college was recognized as a standard four-year college by the State Department of Education, granting its first Bachelor of Science degrees.
Academic Expansion
Under F.D. Bluford, who became president in 1925, the institution expanded its academic programs significantly, including new buildings and increased enrollment.
Graduate Studies Begin
The General Assembly authorized graduate work at the college, with the first Master's degree in agricultural education and rural sociology granted in 1941.
The Sit-In Movement
Four A&T freshmen (Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond) initiated the sit-in movement at the Greensboro Woolworth lunch counter, sparking similar protests nationwide.
University Status
The institution was designated a Regional University by the NC General Assembly and renamed "North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University."
Student Activism
Student activism continued to shape the university, with demands for more relevant education and greater student involvement in university governance.
UNC System Member
NC A&T became a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System when the 16 public universities were merged under one governing board.
Research Classification
The Carnegie Foundation classified A&T as a Doctoral/Research University, recognizing its growing research capabilities.
R2 Research Status
A&T was classified as a Doctoral Research University (R2), reflecting its commitment to research and innovation.
Enrollment Milestone
The university surpassed 12,000 students, becoming the largest HBCU in the nation for the first time in its history.
Historic Gift
A&T received a historic $45 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, the largest gift from a single donor in university history.
No. 1
public historically black university in the nation, as well as the nation's largest HBCU U.S. News & World Report
A doctoral, high-research activity, land-grant university, the only such HBCU in North Carolina to hold all of those designations Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
Most Affordable of North Carolina's top universities Money Magazine
