University Development Strategy for Expansion in Research and Enrollment over the Next Five Years at North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University (NCCU), a historically Black institution, has revealed a new strategic plan aimed at achieving five overarching goals by 2030. The plan, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, focuses on student success, faculty and staff development, facility expansion, community engagement, and financial and operational sustainability.
Chancellor Karrie Dixon, who took the helm at NCCU last summer, acknowledges the university's recent challenges and sees the new strategic plan as a means to capitalise on NCCU's successes and address pressing issues on campus. One such challenge is the need to improve financial reporting, as an audit for the 2023-24 fiscal year showed significant inaccuracies.
To address this, the strategic plan includes a goal to "strengthen financial stewardship, accountability, and transparency." Dixon aims to bring the same approach to NCCU that she used at Elizabeth City State University, where she significantly increased enrollment and received historic amounts of state funding for capital projects and infrastructure improvements.
Another challenge facing the university is the need for more student housing and campus facilities to accommodate the growing student population. The strategic plan aims to address these through a comprehensive evaluation and likely expansion or enhancement of campus facilities. This may include developing new infrastructure and improving existing assets, as part of the goal to expand and modernize the campus environment.
The university's enrollment is rebounding, growing by nearly 8% and bringing in the university's largest-ever first-year class last fall. Dixon expects 500 to 700 more students to enrol this fall, making NCCU the UNC System leader in enrollment growth over the past two years. However, this growth has led to some pain points, particularly around student housing and campus facilities.
Despite these challenges, 38% of NCCU students live on campus, above the UNC System average of 29% and the national average of roughly 25%. The university requires first-year students to live on campus, a mandate that will remain in place. Other students seeking on-campus housing do so on a first-come, first-served basis.
Key goals of the strategic plan include increasing enrollment by tapping into pipelines of non-traditional, adult learners, finding innovative ways to address a need for housing on or near campus, and expanding the university's research portfolio to raise its profile in the national Carnegie Classification system. The university aims to establish programs in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and public health, among other areas, to become a "Research 2," or "R2," university as designated by the Carnegie Classification system.
In response to the financial realities facing higher education institutions, NCCU is developing measurable objectives that include improving financial flexibility and transparency. The strategic planning process incorporates stakeholder engagement to ensure accountability and comprehensive financial management practices. The university will also launch a doctorate in counseling, counselor education, and supervision, and will continue to invest in its existing research centers.
UNC System President Peter Hans enacted systemwide restrictions on campuses' hiring and spending due to funding threats at the state and federal levels. In response, Dixon enacted a hiring freeze at NCCU and directed a reduction in spending across campus to address the university's needs - financial and otherwise. Dixon implemented these financial and hiring measures without being asked, which proved beneficial as a state audit found over $45 million in financial errors in the previous fiscal year.
In conclusion, NCCU’s strategic plan for 2025-2030 centers on five key goals focusing on student success, faculty and staff, facilities, community, and financial sustainability. It addresses student housing and facilities by planning expansions and improvements, while financial challenges are tackled through measurable financial objectives that emphasise transparency and stability. The plan’s development involved wide stakeholder collaboration to ensure comprehensive and achievable outcomes.
The strategic plan of North Carolina Central University (NCCU) pairs education-and-self-development with general-news by focusing on increasing enrollment, particularly among non-traditional, adult learners, as part of the plan's key goals. To address the growing student population, the plan aims to improve and expand campus facilities, including creating programs in areas like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and public health, which are relevant to both current general news and future education-and-self-development advancements. However, the plan also addresses pressing financial issues, such as the need for financial transparency and accountability, emphasizing the university's commitment to both self-improvement and responsible financial stewardship.
