NCSU was founded in 1887 to meet the needs of the people of North Carolina for a "liberal and practical education in the several pursuits and professions in life." As the people's needs have changed, NCSU has changed, continuously evolving over a hundred years to keep pace with the challenges and opportunities faced by an increasingly diverse citizenry in an increasingly complex world. A small college offering degrees in agriculture and the mechanic arts has become a large research university with a broad array of disciplines. Throughout a century of change, NCSU has stayed true to its roots in its traditional land-grant mix of basic and applied programs and in its commitment to public service. NCSU students learn that the world of learning and everyday life are connected to the advancement of the common good.
As a public institution of higher education, NCSU seeks to merit the public trust as a good steward of the state's resources and a positive influence on the common good. NCSU's tradition of enhancing the economic, intellectual, and cultural life of North Carolinians is the basis of the University's desire for excellence and its aspirations to preeminence.
