The Chancellor’s Report July 2017 Graduation Rates Reach New Heights More than 5,600 students graduated in our spring Commencement Ceremony, earning a total of 6,067 degrees. When combined with the degrees conferred at our December Graduation, NC State awarded more than 10,000 degrees this academic year. This is an all-time high for the university. In addition to increased graduation rates and the number of degrees conferred, students’ time to degree has decreased in accordance with NC State’s strategic plan. Over the past five years, NC State’s four-year graduation rate increased 12 percentage points; degrees conferred increased 10 percent for bachelor’s, 21 percent for master’s, and 31 percent for doctoral. And, NC State’s student success initiatives result in students graduating faster with reduced student debt. NC State’s First Newman Fellow Ashle Page was named a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow, the first NC State student to receive the award. She graduated in May with degrees from the College of Textiles and the College of Engineering as a 2017 Newman Civic Fellow. This prestigious honor was awarded to 273 students across the nation to recognize their exceptional community service and leadership efforts and provide tools needed to further develop these skills. Impressive Jump in Patent Rankings NC State jumped 17 places on the Top 100 universities in U.S. utility patents list published by the National Academy of Inventors and the Intellectual Property Owners Association. The university now holds the number 80 spot and was credited at the first signee on 32 patents issued in 2016. NC State is one of only four institutions based in North Carolina to earn a place on the list. New Interdisciplinary Master’s Program Thanks to a $1 million grant from the National Science Foundation, NC State’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will begin creating a master’s program designed for students from underrepresented groups. The Interdisciplinary Biochemistry Graduate Program will provide tuition for 20 master’s students in the Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry over the course of five years. The program is slated to begin with its first class of recipients as early as fall of 2018. Eastman Chemical Company Partnership Continues Executives at Eastman Chemical Company announced that they planned to renew their six-year master research agreement with NC State and expand its engagement with colleges and departments across campus. A representative of the company said that collaborative research opportunities are already underway in the Poole College of Management and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

College of Design Student Virtual Reality Project to Appear at National Conference Students and faculty in NC State’s College of Design continue to impress in all aspects of design. This spring a group of students created Paper Town Virtual Reality, an interactive art installation that immerses the user in a miniature, 360-degree physical environment experienced virtually through web virtual reality. It was accepted to appear at SIGGRAPH, the most well-known and widely respected conference for animation and interactive media, from July 30 – August 4, 2017 in Los Angeles. Student Project Protects Environmental Resource A Senior Design Project from students in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering has come to fruition on Harkers Island. In need of wetland restoration and armed with a Duke Energy Grant, the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum and Heritage Center tapped students to brainstorm possible methods of revitalizing the ecosystem for environmental benefits as well as educational opportunities. Mason Marriner, Alex May, Kristen Navaroli, Meghan Porter and Taylor Williams designed and built a solar-powered water pump in the area that will transfer water from nearby ponds and canals to the dry wetland between rain events. NC State to host 2020 Science Olympiad It was announced that the 2020 Science Olympiad National Tournament will be held on NC State’s Campus. North Carolina has the second-largest Science Olympiad program in the country and has a vast network of participants. NC State students volunteer to help facilitate Science Olympiad events across North Carolina through The Science House at NC State. Hosting the 2020 National Tournament is an outstanding opportunity to encourage young students to think critically, work collaboratively, and innovate while introducing them to NC State. The event will also allow NC State students, faculty and administrators to engage members of academic communities and industry partners from across the country. Barbieri to Receive 2017 Emerging Scholar of Distinction Award Dr. Carla Barbieri, Associate Professor in Equitable and Sustainable Tourism in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, will receive the 2017 Emerging Scholar of Distinction Award from the International Academy for the Study of Tourism at their biennial conference in Guanzhou, China. There she will present the key contributions of her research to the field of tourism. Barbieri leads the NC State Agritourism Lab which research focuses on the sustainability of tourism in agricultural settings as a means to promote societal well-being in the US and abroad. Susan K. Nutter Retires After 30 Years Vice Provost and Director of Libraries Susan K. Nutter announced her plans to retire this fall after 30 years at NC State. Nutter is responsible for a tremendous amount of the growth and progress within NCSU Libraries. Throughout her career, Nutter has worked to transform the capabilities of existing library spaces and revolutionize the ways in which libraries can be used for research, education and outreach. She is largely responsible for the planning and designing of the James B. Hunt Jr. Library on Centennial Campus, an extremely decorated and widely-respected library.