NC State University recruits and admits over 4,400 exceptional students each year from over 26,000 applications. The university aims to build a diverse student body. It engages students through high-impact educational experiences like undergraduate research, study abroad, and entrepreneurship initiatives. The Entrepreneurship Initiative in particular empowers students to create startups and new ventures through resources like The Garage workspace and the Albright Entrepreneurs Village living community. NC State students have found success through these programs, with over 45 student startups launched in the past four years and national recognition and awards won.

1. Recruiting, Admitting, and Engaging
Exceptional University Students
Dr. Michael D. Mullen
Vice Chancellor and Dean
North Carolina State University
Science Education Innovation Forum of
Chinese and Foreign Educators
March 24, 2017

2. NC State University
• 34,000 students
• 2,340 Faculty
• 6,700 Staff
• 12 Colleges
• $1.5 billion budget

3. NC State University - Colleges
• Agriculture
• Design
• Education
• Engineering
• Humanities and Social Sciences
• Management
• Natural Resources
• Sciences
• Textiles
• Veterinary Medicine
• Graduate School
• University College

4. Innovation at NC State
• Our Research has
resulted in over
– 100 new companies
– 1,600 patents
worldwide
• Students can and do
participate

5. RECRUITMENT AND ADMISSION

6. Recruiting
• Students have many
choices for University
• Students are recruited by
– Reputation of the school
– Buying lists – College
Board
– Fairs and Events
• Contacts
• Goal is to get an
application
Admissions Open House

7. Our Admissions Goal
• Build a diverse
community of students.
– Skills
– Talents
– Geography
– Ethnicities
– International
• And, fill enrollment
goals by college.

8. Admissions – What goes into it?
• NC State – 26,000+
applications for 4,400
slots
• Standardized Tests
– ACT and SAT
• High School Performance
(GPA)
• Difficulty of courses
(Honors, AP)
• Strength of High School
• Location and
socioeconomic status
• Essays, activities outside
the classroom
• Leadership,
entrepreneurship, service
• Portfolios for some
programs

9. HOW DO WE ENGAGE OUR
STUDENTS?
Building Successful Students

10. High Impact Educational Experiences
• Programs designed to expand
students’ minds, communities,
and worldviews.
– Alternative Service Breaks
– Arts Programs
– First Year Inquiry courses
– Internships and co-ops
– Living and Learning Villages
– Service projects/learning
– Study Abroad
– Undergraduate research

11. NC State Entrepreneurship Initiative
We empower students
to create meaningful
change by turning ideas
into action.

12. Entrepreneurship Initiative
Startup Spaces:
§ The Garage
§ Albright Entrepreneurs Village
Academics:
§ EI 201: Introduction to Entrepreneurial Thinking
Events & Programming:
§ Entrepalooza
§ Lulu eGames
§ Trips & Tours

13. Entrepreneurship Initiative
The Garage
business creation space
§ Currently 780 members*
§ Students from across all academic disciplines
and areas of study
§ All IP created here is owned 100% by students
*as of May 2016

14. Albright Entrepreneurs Village
living & learning community located in Innovation Hall
§ 36 residents in a mix of sophomores through graduate students*
§ Selected through an application process for students looking to benefit from an
immersive entrepreneurial experience
Entrepreneurship Initiative
*as of fall 2016

15. Entrepreneurship Initiative
EI 201: Introduction to Entrepreneurial
Thinking
general education course
§ 200 students each fall and spring semester (400
students each year)

16. Entrepreneurship Initiative
Entrepalooza
innovation and
entrepreneurship festival
§ Last year over 600 people came out to
celebrate with us
§ 15 students had the opportunity to
pitch for $1,000 in the Minute to Pitch
It competition

17. Entrepreneurship Initiative
Lulu eGames
startup competition
§ 5 tracks with over $60,000
awarded in prizes.
§ Last year we had 104 teams
competing across an array of
industries.

18. Entrepreneurship Initiative
Trips & Tours
New York City & Silicon Valley
§ Fall Break New York City Trip – 10 students
every fall
§ Spring Break Silicon Valley Trip – 18 students
every spring

19. Outcomes
• Two Churchill Awards in Two
Years
• Top 20 in Fulbright Scholars
• Award winning student
entrepreneurs in Engineering,
Social, Management and Arts
Entrepreneurship
• Over 45 start-up businesses
from student entrepreneurs in
past four years.

20. Measure: Student innovation

21. Success