North Carolina State University North Carolina State University at Raleigh ( NCSU ) is a public , coeducation al , research university located in Raleigh , North Carolina , United States . Commonly known as N . C . State or simply ' State , the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land , sea , and space grant institution . The university forms one of the corners of the Research Triangle together with Duke University in Durham and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . The North Carolina General Assembly founded the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts , now NC State , on March 7 , 1887 , as a land - grant college . Today , NC State has an enrollment of more than 34 , 000 students , making it the largest university in North Carolina . NC State has historical strengths in agriculture , life sciences , design , engineering and textiles and now offers 106 bachelor ' s degree s . The graduate school offers 104 master ' s degrees , 61 doctoral degrees , and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine . History . The North Carolina General Assembly founded NC State on March 7 , 1887 as a land - grant college under the name " North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts . " As a land - grant college , NC State would provide a liberal and practical education while focusing on military tactics , agriculture and the mechanical arts without excluding classical studies . Since its founding , the university has maintained these objectives while building on them . After opening in 1889 , NC State saw its enrollment fluctuate and its mandate expand . During the Great Depression , the North Carolina state government , under Governor O . Max Gardner , administratively combined the University of North Carolina , the Woman ' s College ( at Greensboro ) , and NC State . This conglomeration became the University of North Carolina in 1931 . Following World War II , the university grew and developed . The G . I . Bill brought thousands of ex - servicemen to campus , and enrollment shot past the 5 , 000 mark in 1947 . State College created new academic programs , including the School of Architecture and Landscape Design in 1947 ( renamed as the School of Design in 1948 ) , the School of Education in 1948 , and the School of Forestry in 1950 . In the summer of 1956 , North Carolina State College enrolled its first African - American undergraduates , Ed Carson , Manuel Crockett , Irwin Holmes , and Walter Holmes . In 1962 , State College officials desired to change the institution ’ s name to North Carolina State University . Consolidated University administrators approved a change to the University of North Carolina at Raleigh , frustrating many student and alumni who protested the change with letter writing campaigns . In 1963 , State College officially became North Carolina State of the University of North Carolina at Raleigh . Students , faculty , and alumni continued to express dissatisfaction with this name , however , and after two additional years of protest , the name was once again changed , this time to the current North Carolina State University at Raleigh . The " at Raleigh " part is almost never used , but is still part of the school ' s official name . In 1966 , single year enrollment reached 10 , 000 . The 1970s saw enrollment surpass 19 , 000 and the addition of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences . NC State celebrated its centennial in 1987 and reorganized its internal structure renaming all its schools to colleges ( e . g . School of Engineering to the College of Engineering ) . Also in this year , it gained of land that would later become Centennial Campus . During the next decade and a half and continuing today , NC State has focused on developing its new Centennial Campus . Over $ 620 million has been invested in facilities and infrastructure at the new campus with of space being constructed . There are also 61 private and government agency partners located on Centennial Campus . Currently , NC State has almost 8 , 000 employees , nearly 35 , 000 students , a $ 1 . 01 billion annual budget , and a $ 535 million endowment . It is the largest university in the state and one of the anchors of North Carolina ' s Research Triangle , together with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . NCSU Libraries Special Collections Research Center , located in D . H . Hill Library , maintains a website devoted to NC State history entitled " Historical State " . Campuses . Main Campus . NC State ' s Main Campus has three sub - campuses : North Campus , Central Campus , and South Campus . North Campus is the oldest part of NC State and is home to most academic departments and a few residence halls . Central Campus is primarily composed of residence halls , cafeterias , gymnasiums and student support facilities . Finally , Greek Court , the McKimmon Conference and Training Center , and student park - and - ride areas are found on South Campus . North and Central Campus are separated by the North Carolina Railroad . Pedestrian tunnels allow students to commute between campuses . Central and South Campuses are separated by Western Boulevard , a major downtown artery . University Housing divides Main Campus into West , Central , and East Campus for residence hall purposes . West and Central campuses are divided by Dan Allen Drive , while Central and East are divided by Morill Drive and Reynolds Coliseum . Architecturally , Main Campus is known for its distinctive red brick buildings . Because of oversupply , odd brick statues dot the landscape , the University Plaza , colloquially named " The Brickyard " , in Central Campus is nicknamed for its paving material , and most sidewalks are also made from brick . The Brickyard and sidewalks also sporadically contain white brick mosaics and other patterns . The Memorial Tower , located in the Northeast corner of North Campus , serves as the signature of NC State and appears in the NC State Chancellor ' s Seal . It was constructed as a monument to alumni killed in World War I . The granite tower , completed in 1937 , is 115 feet ( 35 m ) tall . As a tradition , the Belltower is lit in red at night immediately following athletic victories and certain academic achievements . The Court of North Carolina , just West of the Memorial Tower , is surrounded by the 1911 Building ; the College of Humanities and Social Sciences in Tompkins , Caldwell , Winston Halls and The College of Education in Poe Hall ; Page Hall , home to College of Engineering offices ; and Leazar Hall , former location of the Computer Science Teaching Labs . It was once home to 100 trees ( one for every county in North Carolina ) , but damage caused by Hurricane Fran in 1996 reduced the number significantly , including the destruction of a particularly old and large tree which was some in diameter . Some replanting has occurred , but the Court ' s former appearance is far from being restored . Southwest of the Court of North Carolina is another landmark , the Free Expression Tunnel . The Tunnel functions as one of three pedestrian tunnels underneath the railroad tracks separating North Campus and Central Campus . This particular tunnel is the site of sanctioned graffiti ; anyone may paint there , and it is often the place for political statements , personal messages , and art . In 2008 racist and threatening graffiti directed at ( then ) President - elect Barack Obama prompted an investigation from the United States Secret Service . Students held a " Unity Rally " in response to denounce the acts of racism . Centennial . NC State ' s main campus is augmented by the mixed - use Centennial Campus . Located south of the Memorial Tower , this campus houses university , corporate , and government research , in addition to classrooms and non - student residences . The College of Textiles has been based on this campus since 1991 . Beginning in 2002 , the College of Engineering began to relocate to Centennial Campus . Currently , six of the nine College of Engineering departments are housed in three Engineering Buildings in an area known as the Engineering Oval . The Golden LEAF Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center ( BTEC ) , part of the College of Engineering , is located adjacent to the Engineering Oval . The offices of Red Hat , ABB , and the National Weather Service are also on the Centennial Campus , as well as Centennial Campus Magnet Middle School . Centennial Biomedical Campus . The North Carolina State University Centennial Biomedical Campus is located west of the NCSU Memorial Tower . North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine , NC State ' s professional college and North Carolina ' s only veterinary medicine program , serves as the anchor of the Biomedical Campus . The campus consists of 20 buildings including the CVM Research Building where biomedical investigations in genomic sciences ; vaccine development ; cancer immuno - therapy ; emerging and infectious zoonotic diseases ; and diseases of the lung , respiratory track , skin , and digestive system are undertaken . The Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research , the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with its clinical research and clinical trials , and the Teaching Animal Unit ( TAU ) , which is a working farm , are also campus elements . The 110 , 000 - square - foot Randall B . Terry , Jr . Companion Animal Veterinary Medical Center , completed in 2011 , doubled the size of the veterinary hospital . J . C . Raulston Arboretum is an arboretum and botanical garden operated by NC State , and located just south of West Campus . It is open daily without charge . N . C . Research Campus . NC State is one of eight universities with a presence at the North Carolina Research Campus , a 340 - acre biotechnology hub in Kannapolis , N . C . The university operates the Plants for Human Health Institute ( PHHI ) , a research and education organization devoted to research involving food crops , like fruits and vegetables , and the potential health - promoting properties they convey when consumed . NC State ' s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences staffs the institute with faculty from the departments of horticultural science ; food , bioprocessing and nutrition sciences ; plant biology ; genetics ; and agricultural and resource economics . PHHI has both research and Cooperative Extension components . Dr . Mary Ann Lila is director of the Plants for Human Health Institute . As of September 2012 , PHHI is home to around 50 faculty and staff at the N . C . Research Campus . Sustainability . In March 2008 , NC State launched the University Sustainability Office to address environmental concerns on campus and includes a Director of Sustainability , a Sustainability Outreach Coordinator , a Sustainability Program Coordinator , and a Sustainability Student intern . NC State has established a commitment to reduce its annual energy consumption per square foot by at least 4 % over a 10 year period . In addition , the university has surpassed the Executive Order 156 goal of diverting 40 percent of their solid waste stream from the landfill through a variety of campus reuse and recycling programs . NC State incorporates locally grown , organic , and free range foods into dining service meals at several events such as Earth Week ’ s EarthFest and the annual All Carolinas Meal with foods local to the Carolinas . Examinations of the campus ’ sustainability practices by the Sustainable Endowments Institute resulted in a “ C + ” grade for NC State on the College Sustainability Report Card 2009 . Academics . Structure . NC State is one of 16 campuses that constitute the University of North Carolina system . Each campus has a high degree of independence , but each submits to the policies of the UNC system Board of Governors . The 32 voting members of the Board of Governors are elected by the North Carolina General Assembly for four - year terms . President Thomas W . Ross heads the system . The Board of Trustees of NC State has thirteen members and sets all policies for the University . The UNC system Board of Governors elects eight of the trustees and the Governor of North Carolina appoints four . The student body president serves on the Board of Trustees as a voting member . The UNC system also elects the Chancellor of NC State , currently Randy Woodson . The Board of Trustees administers NC State ' s eleven academic colleges . Each college grants its own degrees with the exception of the First Year College which provides incoming freshmen the opportunity to experience several disciplines before selecting a major . The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is the only college to offer associate ' s degrees and the College of Veterinary Medicine does not grant undergraduate degrees . Each college is composed of numerous departments that focus on a particular discipline or degree program , for example English , Computer Science , Genetics or Accounting . There are a total of 66 departments administered by all eleven NC State colleges . In total , NC State offers nine associate ' s degree s in agriculture , bachelor ' s degree s in 102 areas of study , master ' s degrees in 108 areas and doctorate degree s in 60 areas . NC State is known for its programs in agriculture , engineering , veterinary medicine , and science . The textile and paper engineering programs are notable , given the uniqueness of the subject area . The Entrepreneurship Initiative . The Entrepreneurship Initiative in 2006 . Andy Albright was named to the Triad ' s 2011 Movers & Shakers list by Business Leader magazine ( EI ) at NC State distinguishes itself by encouraging multidisciplinary participation on every level – faculty , staff , industry and outreach partners , and most importantly , students . With Dr . Tom Miller as its first executive director , the initiative was formed In July 2008 in response to the Chancellor ’ s call to " develop an educated an entrepreneurial work force . " NC State has long been widely recognized as a strong presence in the entrepreneurial community of the region . By organizing and energizing its efforts through the Initiative , NC State will provide a comprehensive springboard for ideas , projects , and partnerships . By leveraging its core strengths in science , engineering , and technology , NC State will develop entrepreneurial solutions to society ’ s current problems and future needs . Through the Initiative , individual entrepreneurial projects and programs throughout the university unite to provide students with top - tier resources and opportunities . The EI program encourages students to grow the entrepreneurial spirit by encouraging multidisciplinary participation with faculty , staff , industry and students , in hopes of building a community within and beyond N . C . State that thrives on a creative , immerse entrepreneurial experience for all . The ELS is designed to showcase outstanding innovation and entrepreneurship among N . C . State alumni and partners . The lecture series is made possible by a grant from the Albright ' s . The goal of the EI program is to build a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship for N . C . State students through programs and opportunities that help prepare them to be North Carolina ' s job creators and leaders of tomorrow . Admission . Considered a " more selective " university , NC State accepts about half of those who apply for undergraduate admission . For the class of 2013 , over 19 , 000 applications were received and only 55 % were accepted . This was the largest application pool ever at N . C . State and the highest among the UNC system . This class included about 160 valedictorians and salutatorians . About 48 % were ranked in the top 10 % of their class and 83 % ranked in the top 20 % . The mean GPA for freshman entering fall of 2010 is 4 . 23 . For the class of 2014 , 19 , 514 applied and 10 , 530 , or 54 % , were accepted . For the class of 2015 , 19 , 863 applied and 10 , 395 , or 52 % , were accepted . The fall of 2012 saw 20 , 435 apply for the class of 2016 ; only 10 , 137 , or half , were accepted , an all - time - low . Transfer admission is also very competitive . According to the College Board , 3 , 868 students apply for one of the 1 , 389 places in the transfer class at NCSU . The mean transfer GPA was a 3 . 30 fall of 2008 . For the fall of 2010 almost 3 , 900 students applied for about 1 , 100 spaces . NC State does not requires undergraduate admission candidates to choose a preferred college of study . After determining that an applicant meets the overall university requirements , the individual college must also agree to accept the student . Because of this process , some colleges have significantly higher admission requirements than others . The Graduate School reviews all postgraduate education applications . For fall 2005 , 7 , 206 prospective students applied to the Graduate School ; 2836 ( 39 . 4 % ) were admitted . Of these , 1 , 755 ( 61 . 9 % ) enrolled . Total fall 2005 graduate enrollment 6 , 128 . Library . NCSU Libraries , ranked 38th out of 115 North American research libraries , includes 4 . 4 million volumes , over 50 , 000 print and electronic serial subscriptions , more than 20 , 000 videos and film holdings , and more than 40 , 000 digital images ( as of 2011 ) . The library system has an annual budget of over $ 29 million and consists of eight libraries . The D . H . Hill Library , located on Main Campus , is over nine stories tall and covers over 119 thousand square feet ( 11 thousand square meters ) . The James B . Hunt Jr . Library , located on the university ' s Centennial Campus , opened in January 2013 and covers over 221 , 000 square feet . NC State , as a member of the Triangle Research Libraries Network ( TRLN ) , has interlibrary loan services with Duke University , the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , and North Carolina Central University . Reputation and rankings . US News and World Report places NC State 101st out of 248 national universities in the US ( 52nd out of public colleges ) . The Shanghai Jiao Tong University ' s Academic Ranking of World Universities positions NC State 101st among 500 world universities in terms of scientific research leading towards a Nobel Prize in 2005 . Furthermore , it was ranked 96th worldwide in 2009 according to Global University Ranking . NC State is rated twelfth among the nation ' s colleges and universities in terms of value , according to Kiplinger ' s Personal Finance . In 2006 , NC State was ranked second by Princeton Review and fifth by " U . S . News & World Report " on their lists of best values among the nation ' s public colleges and universities . U . S . News & World Report also ranked NC State ' s Nuclear engineering program 6th in the nation in 2012 . Recently , the university was ranked 6th in the country by The Princeton Review on the list of best value for 2010 at a public university . For 2010 the Wall Street Journal surveyed recruiters and ranked NC State number 19 among the top 25 recruiter picks . Scholarships . There are several notable scholarships of North Carolina State University which include : The Park Scholarship Program – Made possible by generous financial support from the Park Foundation of Ithaca , New York , The Park Scholarship Program was established in 1996 . Among the most prestigious undergraduate merit scholarships , the Park program pays expenses for 4 years of study at NC State , a one time computer stipend , and costs associated with enrichment activities . There are approximately 35 in - state scholarships ( valued at $ 80 , 000 ) and 15 out - of - state scholarships ( valued at $ 130 , 000 ) awarded each year to incoming freshmen at North Carolina State University . Selection is based upon scholarship , service , leadership , and character . The Centennial Scholarship – A scholarship to the College of Textiles . Introduced by the North Carolina Textile Foundation in 1999 as a part of the College of Textiles ' Centennial Celebration , Centennial Scholarships carry the greatest value among all scholarships at the College of Textiles . Furthermore , the Centennial Scholarship is among the highest valued scholarships offered at North Carolina State University . This scholarship covers approximately 80 % of expenses to attend NC State , and on - campus housing ( or a stipend for an equal amount ) and a meal plan ( or predetermined allowance ) , with any remaining funds to be used as a stipend for books and travel expenses ( for up to eight semesters ) . In addition , each Centennial Scholar will have access to a $ 7 , 500 enrichment fund that will allow him / her to participate in a variety of leadership , language immersion and international studies programs , attend international textile shows and benefit from other approved textile enrichment opportunities . Selection is based upon demonstrated high academic achievement throughout high school with proven and potential leadership qualities , extracurricular activities and unique life experiences . The Caldwell Fellows Program – Created by the NC State Alumni Association to honor the legacy of former Chancellor John T . Caldwell , the Caldwell Fellows Program is a leadership development scholarship program with a strong focus on servant leadership . To be eligible , an applicant must be a full - time , first - year student at NC State University with a GPA of 3 . 25 or greater and meet the program ' s selection criteria . Caldwell Fellows are selected on the basis of strong academic performance , leadership potential , orientation toward community and service , commitment to personal growth and a demonstrated interest in and commitment to maximizing program opportunities . Students that go through the program are challenged by Dr . Caldwell ' s charge to " THINK BIG " in all their pursuits . Athletics . North Carolina State ( NC State ) teams are known as the Wolfpack . They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA ) Division I level ( Football Bowl Subdivision ( FBS ) sub - level for football ) , primarily competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference ( ACC ) for all sports since the 1953 - 54 season . Men ' s sports include baseball , basketball , cheerleading , cross country , football , golf , soccer , swimming & diving , tennis , track & field and wrestling ; while women ' s sports include basketball , cheerleading , cross country , golf , gymnastics , soccer , softball , swimming and diving , tennis , track & field and volleyball . NC State has won eight national championships : two NCAA championships , two AIAW championships , and four titles under other sanctioning bodies . Most NC State fans and athletes recognize the rivalry with the North Carolina Tar Heels as their biggest . NC State was a founding member of the Southern Conference and is also one of the four teams on Tobacco Road . The primary logo for NC State athletics is a red block ' S ' with an inscribed ' N ' and ' C ' . The block S has been in use since 1890 but has seen many alterations through the years . It became the sole logo for all NC State athletic teams in 2000 and was modernized to its current design in 2006 . NC State athletic teams are nicknamed the ' Wolfpack ' ( most women ' s teams are also called the " Wolfpack , " except for the women ' s basketball team who go by the " Wolfpack Women " ) . The name was adopted in 1922 when a disgruntled fan described the behavior of the student body at athletic events as being " like a wolf pack . " Prior to the adoption of the current nickname , NC State athletic teams went by such names as the Aggies , the Techs , and the Red Terrors . Since the 1960s the Wolfpack has been represented at athletic events by its mascots , Mr . and Ms . Wuf . In print , the ' Strutting Wolf ' is used and is known by the name ' Tuffy . ' Athletic Facilities . The stadium property is northwest of the Memorial Bell Tower . Both Carter - Finley Stadium and the PNC Arena are located there . Aside from the two stadiums , the property is mainly open space used for event parking . The property borders the North Carolina State Fair to the North and hosts tailgating parties before NC State football games . Student life . Many residence halls host events , though alcohol policies are strictly enforced . Witherspoon Student Center ( A . K . A . Student Center Annex ) houses an African American Cultural Center which has an art gallery and a library . The cultural center moved to its current location in Witherspoon in 1991 , having formerly been located in the Print Shop . Witherspoon also houses Student Media and a multicultural student affairs office . Student life at North Carolina State University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations . These include multicultural groups , arts groups , political and social action groups , service and professional groups , religious groups , Greek organizations , sports and recreation groups , academic and professional groups , and special interest groups such as the Clogging Team , the Film Society , the Judo Club , the Equestrian Club , and the Black Finesse Modeling Troupe . Residence life . Thirty - five percent of full - time undergraduate students live on campus in one of nineteen residence halls . Most residence halls provide events that acclimate incoming students to the college experience . Many residence halls house villages , such as Honors village in Quad , Global village in Alexander and Carroll halls , Scholars village in Sullivan hall , Impact Leadership Village in Bowen hall , WISE in Lee Hall , Arts village in Turlington hall and First Year Commons in Owen and Tucker hall . The residence hall or residence hall area has an elected council to provide for local event programming and an outlet for student concerns . Collectively , representatives from the from each hall make up the Inter - Residence Council which represents the on - campus residence - life community as a whole . University housing facilities are divided into four areas : East Campus , Central Campus , West Campus , and University Apartments . East Campus . East Campus consists of ten residence halls . They are among the oldest residence halls at the university . Clark Dining Hall serves most of East Campus . Central Campus . Central Campus consists of seven residence halls . West Campus . West Campus consists of three residence halls . They are the three largest halls on campus . Fountain Dining Hall serves most of West Campus . Student Government . Founded in 1921 , NC State Student Government is a student - run organization that serves as the official voice of the student body and attempts to better the student experience at the University . Both a governing body and an advocacy group , Student Government is involved in policy - making , adjudication , programming , advocating , community service , and countless other activities . The organization is a clearinghouse for concerns from students and answers from administrators . The organization also is responsible for distributing a portion of the fees it receives to student organizations in a process known as appropriations . The Student Government at NC State is composed of three branches , and headed by four Student Body Officers ( SBOs ) . The Student Body President heads the executive branch . The President executes policy passed by the senate and is a member of the NC State Board of Trustees . The Student Senate is a 64 - member body that considers legislative policy on behalf of the students of the University . It is headed by the Student Senate President who is also the Student Body Vice President and assumes the Presidency if that office becomes vacant . The Senate is also responsible for approving the annual Student Government budget . The budget is drafted each year by the Student Body Treasurer who oversees the monetary status of the entirety of Student Government and as such is a member of both the Legislative and Executive branches . The Student Chief Justice heads the judicial branch and is the only member of that branch elected by the student body . Student traditions . Service NC State . Service NC State ( SNCS ) is sponsored by the Center for Student Leadership , Ethics & Public Service as the definitive service event to welcome new students to NC State ' s campus , and as a way to impact the community . This event is open to all students , faculty , staff and the Raleigh community . The event role models the university ' s mission to impact and support its local and global community . Homecoming Week . Homecoming week , an event run by the AASAP ( Alumni Association Student Ambassador Program ) , is one of the only homecoming weeks entirely run by students . Usually at the end of October , starts with a Kickoff event and ends with the Pack Howl pep rally and concert . Featured performers have included Lonestar , Ludacris , Chris Daughtry , and most recently Cartel , Guster and The Avett Brothers . During the week , events such as Wear Red - Get Fed , a parade down Hillsborough Street , and a campus - wide Spirit Competition take place . The week also includes a Leader of the Pack competition honoring NC State ' s brightest and most passionate female and male student leaders . Shack - A - Thon . The Shack - A - Thon , an NCSU tradition since 1991 , is NC State ' s Habitat for Humanity ' s annual fall fundraiser . Habitat for Humanity at NCSU Campus Chapter partners with many other student organizations to take over the Brickyard by building shacks that the students live , sleep , and study in for an entire week . Each group raises money by collecting from people walking through the brickyard . This money goes toward funding a house through Habitat for Humanity of Wake County . Krispy Kreme Challenge . A more recent tradition of NC State is the Krispy Kreme Challenge . In this race , students meet at the University ' s Memorial Bell Tower , then run to a Krispy Kreme shop away ( increased to in 2012 ) . Each student must eat twelve glazed doughnuts , then run back to the Bell Tower within one hour . The Challenge was listed as one of the " 102 Things You Gotta Do Before You Graduate " by " Sports Illustrated " . Proceeds from the race go to the NC Children ' s Hospital . In 2011 , proceeds reached $ 100 , 000 . Student media . " Technician " has been NC State ' s student - run newspaper since 1920 . It employs students throughout the year and reports on campus news , sports , entertainment , and state and national news . " Technician " is published Monday through Friday when school is in session with a circulation of about 20 , 000 . The paper is funded by advertisement and a student media fee ; it is distributed for free at numerous locations on campus and at area merchants . The " Nubian Message " is NC State ' s African American student newspaper . The " Nubian Message " was first published in 1992 following protests from many African American students denouncing the " Technician ' s " alleged racial bias . The " Nubian Message " is currently published weekly . NC State ' s oldest student publication , the " Agromeck " yearbook , celebrated its 100th birthday with the 2002 edition . It acts as a compendium of student life on campus including sporting events , social activities , and day - to - day living . The yearbook serves as a historian of campus . Each year , nearly 1 , 000 copies are printed and sold . The University has its own student - run radio station , WKNC . The radio station broadcasts at 25 , 000 watts and reaches all corners of " the Triangle " ( Raleigh , Durham and Chapel Hill ) . In 2010 , WKNC was voted " Best College Radio Station of the Triangle " by readers of the Independent Weekly . The station hosts several formats run by student disc jockeys . Prior to its designation as WKNC in 1958 , the station ' s call letters were WVWP . Alumni . NC State has 156 , 297 living alumni with 61 % of alumni living in North Carolina . There are 100 alumni clubs in North Carolina and another 42 states also have active clubs . In addition to alumni , the university employs 2 , 040 faculty and 5 , 843 staff . A number of NC State alumni and faculty have made significant contributions in the fields of government , military , science , academia , business , arts , and athletics , among others . John Edwards , former U . S . Senator and two time presidential candidate , James B . Hunt Jr . , 4 - term Governor of North Carolina and Robert Gibbs , Former White House Press Secretary , are among the most notable alumni with involvement in politics . Combining science and politics , Rajendra Kumar Pachauri is the elected chief of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , an organization that shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore . Abdurrahim El - Keib is the interim prime minister of Libya . Alumnus Munir Ahmad Khan also would gain an international recognition for his work in reactor quantum physics and later guided the scientific research in nuclear weapons for Pakistan ' s atomic bomb programs . Several alumni hold or have held top positions at large companies . These include : Caterpillar Inc . ( James W . Owens ) , Thomasville Furniture Industries ( Nancy Webster ) , DuPont ( Ed Woolard ) , SAS Institute ( James Goodnight ) , Andy Albright businessman , entrepreneur and President and CEO of National Agents Alliance , Citrix Systems ( Mark Templeton ) and MurFam Enterprises ( Wendell Murphy ) . Over 50 NC State alumni have achieved the rank of Brigadier General or higher in the United States Military . The first four star officer at NCSU , General Maxwell R . Thurman , a former Vice Chief of Staff of the U . S . Army . Hugh Shelton , now retired , was a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a four star general . General Dan McNeill currently commands the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan . General William C . Lee is often referred to as the " Father of the U . S . Airborne . " Some alumni have become national academic leaders . Albert Carnesale was the chancellor of UCLA from 1997 to 2006 after a 23 year tenure at Harvard University . Bill Friday served as president of the University of North Carolina system for 30 years . William Brantley Aycock served as chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1957 until 1964 . Notable contributors to the Entertainment Industry are associated with NC State . Actor and Comedian Zach Galifianakis attended NC State . Country Singer and American Idol winner , Scotty McCreery currently attends NC State University . Donald Bitzer , the father of Plasma Television and Emmy Award winner currently sits on the faculty of NC State . John Tesh also studied at NC State , but was expelled his junior year . Several NC State students later became professional athletes . Bill Cowher coached 15 seasons with the Steelers including the Super Bowl XL championship team and he currently is a studio analyst for " The NFL Today " . Over 130 NC State alumni play or have played in the NFL . Notable former players include Torry Holt , Roman Gabriel , Ted Brown , Dick Christy , Haywood Jeffires , Dr . Jerry Punch , Jim Ritcher , Koren Robinson and Dewayne Washington . Notable current players include Adrian Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals , Jerricho Cotchery of the Pittsburgh Steelers , No . 1 pick Mario Williams and T . J . Graham of the Buffalo Bills , Anthony Hill of the Houston Texans , Tank Tyler of the Carolina Panthers , Stephen Tulloch of the Detroit Lions , Philip Rivers who plays for the San Diego Chargers and Russell Wilson , Steven Hauschka , and J . R . Sweezy of the Seattle Seahawks . Another 41 alumni have played for the NBA including hall of famer David Thompson and players Tom Gugliotta , Kenny Carr , Spud Webb , Cedric Simmons , Julius Hodge , J . J . Hickson , Josh Powell , and Thurl Bailey . Former players Nate McMillan and Vinny Del Negro are current NBA head coaches .