North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University ( NC A & T or A & T ) is a land - grant university located in Greensboro , North Carolina , United States . It is the largest publicly funded historically black college ( HBCU ) in the state of North Carolina . NC A & T is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System . It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ( SACS ) and classified as a research university with high research activity by The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education . Founded in 1891 and known then as The Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race . NC A & T is one of the nation ' s leading producers of African - American engineers with bachelor ' s , master ' s and doctorate degrees . NASA is one of the major partners of the School of Engineering . It is also the nation ' s top producer of minorities with degrees ( as a whole ) in science , mathematics , engineering and technology . NC A & T is also a leading producer of minority certified public accountants , landscape architects , and veterinarians . NC A & T offers 116 bachelor ' s degrees , 54 master ' s degrees , and doctorate degrees in energy , environmental , electrical engineering studies , Leadership Studies , and mechanical , electrical , and industrial engineering . NC A & T is a member - school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund . History . The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was established as a " mechanical college " for the " Colored Race " by an act of the General Assembly of North Carolina , ratified March 9 , 1891 . The act read in part : " That the leading objective of the college shall be to teach practical agriculture and the mechanic arts and such learning as related thereto , not excluding academic and classical instruction . " This college was established along with North Carolina Agricultural and Mechanical College , now known as North Carolina State University ; due to segregation laws , whites and blacks could not attend college together . The college operated in Raleigh at the private Shaw University until 1893 , when donations from Dr . Dewitt , C . Benbow and Charles H . Moore totaling $ 11 , 000 and 14 acres ( 57 , 000 m² ) of land allowed the establishment of a campus in Greensboro . The original course of study of A & T included languages and literature , mathematics , business , agriculture and military science . Female students enrolled from 1893 until 1901 , but not again until 1928 . In 1915 , the name of the College became The Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina by act of the NC General Assembly . On February 1 , 1960 , four A & T freshmen helped spark the civil rights movement in the South . Ezell Blair ( Jibreel Khazan ) , Joseph McNeil , Franklin McCain , and David Richmond " sat - in " at an all white eating establishment ( Woolworth ' s ) and demanded equal service at the lunch counter . Because of their great desire for change and equality they inspired many other students of the university to join them in their non - violent protest to desegregate Woolworth ' s lunch counter . By the end of July 1960 , their mission was accomplished and they became the A & T Four and their campaign became known as the Greensboro sit - ins . Seven years later , the college gained university status and became North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University . The school was centrally involved in the 1969 Greensboro uprising when it was stormed by the National Guard in what was described at the time as " the most massive armed assault ever made against an American university " . On February 25 , 2009 , Chancellor Stanley Battle announced his resignation , effective June 30 , 2009 , citing family and personal issues . The following month , on May 22 , 2009 , Dr . Harold L . Martin Sr . was elected as the 12th chancellor of the university by UNC System Board of Governors . Academics . North Carolina A & T State University comprises seven ( 7 ) Schools and two Colleges : Campus . The main campus is spread out over and is just nine blocks from downtown Greensboro . The campus is divided into three zones which contain administrative , classroom , and residence halls . A portion of the campus is the Agricultural and Technical College of North Carolina Historic District , which was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 . North Campus . The area known as North Campus provides Traditional , Suite , and Apartment style living options for students residing on campus . North Campus residence halls include : Cooper Hall , Alex Haley Hall , and The Aggie Village . North Campus is also home to such buildings as The Memorial Student Union , Aggie Stadium , and Corbett Sports Center . This area also houses various academic buildings for students majoring in Business , Communications , English , Political Science , History , Math , Physics , Dance & Theater , Biology , as well as other disciplines in the School of Business , Economics , and The College of Arts and Sciences . East Campus . This area provides Suite , and Apartment style living to students . East Campus residence halls house facilities offering single , double , and private room environments . The residence halls on East Campus are : Pride Hall , The Aggie Suites , and Aggie Terrace . The residence halls are in close proximity to Corbett Sports Center , and the fitness and wellness center . East Campus houses various academic buildings for students affiliated with The School of Business and Economics , Air Force & Army ROTC , Education and Animal Science . East Campus also houses Dowdy Administrative Building and the Office of Student Admissions . South Campus . South campus is home to the more historic building on campus . South campus residence halls provide Traditional community living . The residence Halls of south campus include : Barbee , Curtis , Holland , Morrison , Morrow , and Vanstory Halls . South campus is also home to Bluford Library , The College of Engineering , Williams Cafeteria , the Dudley Building ( University Art Gallery ) , the Holland Bowl , the Fraternity and Sorority Plots , also known as " Greek Lane , " as well as Sebastion Health Center . Transportation . City Transit . The Greensboro Transit Authority ( GTA ) offers public bus service throughout the city of Greensboro . NC A & T is served by Route 10 - East Market Street ( Monday - Saturday ) and Route 22 - E . Market Street / Bessemer Avenue / Phillips Avenue ( Sundays ) . The GTA also offers a service called Higher Education Area Transit , or HEAT . This service links downtown attractions to area colleges and universities . Students from eligible institutions are allowed to ride HEAT fare - free with a valid school identification card or HEAT issued farecard . NC A & T is served by Routes 70 ( East Heat ) , 75 ( A & T Heat ) on weekdays and also Route 70 / 71 ( East West ) on evenings and weekends . On Campus Transit . The campus also has its own transportation service called The Aggie Pride Shuttle . The shuttle travels to various stops on campus and contains two routes : The Blue Route and The Gold Route . Each route services a different half of the campus . The Memorial student union serves as the transfer point between the two routes . Athletics . North Carolina A & T ' s Athletic program is classified as Division I by the NCAA . The athletic program offers 6 varsity sports for men and 9 for women . North Carolina A & T fields teams in : Baseball , Basketball , Football , indoor / outdoor Track & Field and cross country for male athletes . NC A & T also fields teams in Basketball , Bowling , Softball , volleyball , indoor / outdoor Track & Field , Tennis , cross country , and Swimming for female athletes . The school athletic teams are called the Aggies or Lady Aggies . Cheerleading is offered as the only co - ed sport at the university . The Aggie cheer squad are multiple time MEAC champions in both all girls and co - ed division cheerleading . The university participates in the Mid - Eastern Athletic Conference ( MEAC ) in all varsity sports . The Aggies Football program participates in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision ( FCS ) . The current athletic director for the university is Mr . Wheeler Brown . Brown became the director of athletics for North Carolina A & T on August 11 , 2008 . Before returning to his alma mater in 2002 , Brown held the positions of assistant athletics director and assistant men ’ s basketball coach at Wheeling and Jesuit University . Brown played for the Aggies football team from 1974 – 78 , and graduated from N . C . A & T in 1979 with a degree in health and physical education . Brown , a native of Baltimore , Maryland , was a part of N . C . A & T ’ s first MEAC football championship in 1975 . Brown was an all - conference performer at offensive tackle for the Aggies and was inducted into the N . C . A & T Hall of Fame in 2003 . Student life . Student Government Association . The NC A & T SU Student Government Association ( SGA ) is the undergraduate student government of North Carolina A & T State University . The SGA consists of The Executive Branch , The Student Senate , Judiciary Branch , and Class Officers . Greek life . North Carolina A & T State University ' s Greek Community , Started in 1915 , consists of all nine of the Historically Black National Pan - Hellenic Council Fraternities and Sororities , as well as local social organizations , honor societies and professional organizations . In order to function on campus , these organizations are registered with The Office of Student Affairs , and are under the jurisdiction of one of NC A & T SU ' s three Greek governing councils . The Office of Student Affairs works closely with individual organizations in the development of their activities , community service programming , and Membership Intake Processes . Greek Lettered Council . Other National fraternities and sororities with registered chapters are members of the Greek Lettered Council . The current members on campus include : Social fellowships . National Social Fellowships that do not affiliate with Greek Lettered organizations fall under the jurisdiction of ' Social Fellowships . The Current Members on campus Include : Marching band . The athletic teams at the university are supported by The North Carolina A & T State University Blue & Gold Marching Machine , the university ' s marching band . The entire volunteer band typically performs at football games , parades , and battle of the bands from September through the month of November . Additionally , the smaller pep bands play at all home basketball games . The band is under the direction of Dr . Kenneth G . Ruff , an alumnus of the university . History . Started in 1918 , By Mr . W . E . Lew , the band program , has grown from a 50 - piece ensemble grew to the 210 member band of Today . It was not until the 1930s that marching band was offered as an extracurricular activity . During this time , A & T had the distinction of being the only Historically Black college in North Carolina with a band . In the mid 1960s , the band introduced the concept of majorettes and flag twirlers . In the late 1970s to early 1980s , the band underwent a change in leadership . Mr . Jimmy Williams and Dr . Johnny B . Hodge , Jr . became the directors of the band . During this era , the marching band also was renamed to the current “ Blue & Gold Marching Machine ” moniker . Dr . Hodge ' s tenure as the director of band ' s spanned over four decades . It was not until Hodge ' s retirement in 2003 , that then assistant of bands , Dr . Kenneth Ruff , became the director . In Addition to Dr . Ruff , the Blue and Gold Marching Machine ' s leadership also includes assistant director of bands , Mr . Brian Millsap . The Blue and Gold Marching Machine has performed in many major performances including the Macy ’ s Day Parade in New York City , the 2009 Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta , Georgia and also performing in the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac , Michigan . The band currently is divided by into 11 sections ; 9 of which consist of instrumentalist . Each section is run by its own section leader ( s ) . Those sections : Ebony Queens and Kings ( Clarinets ) , Essence of Silver ( piccolo s ) , Saxually Active ( Saxophone s ) , Scream Machine ( Trumpet s ) , Sonic Boom ( French Horn s ) , Freight Train ( Trombone s ) , Crucial EU ( Euphonium s ) , Thundar Brothers ( Sousaphone s ) , Cold Steel ( Percussion ) , Golden Delight ( Baton twirlers / Dancers / Flags ) and Smooth Ignition ( Drum Majors ) Marching Style . The Blue & Gold Marching Machine utilizes a variation of the high step marching style . This involves the lifting of the knee with legs directly in front , thighs parallel to the ground , and toes pointed downward . When the leg is elevated , there should be a 90 - degree angle with the body and the thigh , and a 90 - degree angle with the thigh and the shin . The leg is then lowered , and this is repeated with the other leg . This is informally referred to as the " chair step " . This is also the style commonly found in many HBCU bands . Media . The students of NC A & T SU contribute to the university ' s official media outlets . WNNA 90 . 1 FM is The School ' s Official Radio Station WNAA 90 . 1 FM A & T Radio Station and The A & T Register is The School ' s Student Newspaper .