Welcome to the New Academic Year – August 2016

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

Welcome to what is sure to be another exciting year at NC State. I hope you have all enjoyed your summer and are excited to start the 2016-2017 academic year.

I would like to offer a warm welcome to the 4,300 new members of the Wolfpack this year. NC State is an outstanding place that offers countless opportunities and experiences that aid in intellectual and personal growth. I am confident that the incoming freshmen, transfer and graduate students will only add to State’s already impressive student body and further strengthen our campus community.

I am happy to report that Reynolds Coliseum will be opening very soon. I strongly encourage all of you – whether you’re new to NC State or a seasoned member of the Wolfpack – to check out the new changes when the doors reopen later this the fall. We’ve installed an Athletics Hall of Fame and History exhibit in the northern third of the building in addition to general facilities updates like new seating and improved office space. Those of you who have frequented Reynolds in the past will be pleased to know that the building will now have air conditioning and heating capabilities throughout.

Harrelson Hall is no longer with us. The construction crew has been hard at work this summer to take down the infamous spiraled building, and they have made incredible progress. But they aren’t the only ones who have been putting in hours this summer. Faculty and staff members across campus have been diligently working on their own academic and research projects in addition to preparing for the new school year. We welcomed some new faculty and staff over the summer months, and they have already seamlessly transitioned into their new positions and life here at NC State. I know they are just as excited to get this academic year underway as the rest of us.

I would like to close with a final reminder to everyone who calls NC State home. As always, we are focused on providing a challenging yet attainable educational experience to students, state of the art resources for innovative researchers, and opportunities for investigative minds to pursue their passions. But we should also remember that we are here to learn and create and discover in the hopes of improving lives and bettering our communities.

As part of many local and global communities, we have faced some difficult situations in the past few years. We have shared in the heartache, but our community has responded with a strength and sincerity that can often be hard to find in such a large and diverse group. We must hold onto that strength, that unity as members of a large campus and of countless other communities, because now more than ever, the world in which we live needs to see that type of support, understanding and acceptance.

Sincerely,

Randy Woodson
Chancellor
NC State