Wake Tech and NC A&T University sign technology education partnership

RALEIGH, NC (October 10, 2022) – Wake Tech and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University today signed a technology education partnership agreement to enhance new degree completion and career opportunities for students in information technology and biotechnology programs.


As part of the agreement, NC A&T will receive classroom and office space at Wake Tech’s RTP Campus in the Lilly Science and Technology Center to support enrollment and advising. An executive office includes two branded first-floor units where NCAT holds scheduling priority and up to three third-floor faculty office spaces. The Lilly Center is home to Wake’s new Early College of Informatics and Biotechnology, and the degrees offered through the new partnership align with program areas offered through the Early College.

“North Carolina A&T and Wake Technical Community Colleges are national technology education leaders in our respective sectors, and this new collaboration will further enhance the impact of both of our institutions,” said Wake Tech President Dr. Scott Ralls. “Combined with our partnership with Wake County Public Schools at the RTP campus, this new partnership creates an unparalleled technology education pipeline in one of America’s leading technology career centers.”

As October is recognized as Cyber ​​Security Awareness Month, A&T’s leadership in cybersecurity education and research in both cybersecurity research, education and outreach, and through the College of Engineering earns national recognition, the Department of Defense (DOD) National Security Agency’s Cyber ​​Security Center for Academic Excellence. Last spring, A&T was among six historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) selected for the first cohort of IBM Virtual Cybersecurity Leadership Centers to enhance learning, application and professional development opportunities for students and faculty.

A&T’s College of Science and Technology (COST) – which includes departments of Applied Engineering Technology, Applied Science and Technology, Biology, Computer Graphics Technology and Computer Systems Technology – is ranked in the top 20 nationally by US News & World Report for its online master’s program. COST partnered with the Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation Institute this spring to become the home of the new American Cutting Edge (ACE) Regional Machine Tools Workforce Training Center. ACE is a joint initiative of DOD and the Department of Energy to re-establish American leadership in the machine tool industry.

“North Carolina A&T’s commitment to creating innovative solutions that address our world’s challenges and economic needs requires creating baccalaureate and graduate pathways for traditional and post-traditional students,” said Chancellor Harold L. Martin Sr. “Our partnership with WAC is critical to our tech mission as we work to improve the human condition and facilitate economic prosperity for North Carolinians.

This new relationship between Wake Tech – the state’s largest community college – and A&T – the nation’s largest HBCU – will create a cluster of resources and opportunities along the North Carolina Innovation Corridor that will ultimately benefit students and the state’s economy, confirming North Carolina’s ranking by CNBC’s Business Facilities Magazine as a business hub. Best working conditions.

With recent collaborations between the two institutions on cybersecurity, computer programming and network management programs, A&T has emerged as one of the top transfer destinations for Wake Tech IT graduates. More than 5,200 students are enrolled in Wake Tech IT degree programs.


The two institutes are committed to further development and improvement in the field of information technology, computer engineering, biotech and biological engineering in developing new state of the art agreements.

Develop and expand joint admissions programs to support Wake Tech students enrolled in STEM programs such as information technology, biotechnology, associate degree in engineering, science and science teacher preparation, and others.

In addition, WeakTech and A&T jointly develop Level I/Level II training programs in Software Development/Software Engineering, Biotechnology-Biopharma/Biological Engineering and other career paths such as Cyber ​​Security and Analytics. Establish partnership and fundraising protocols to engage Wake County technology employers and share the benefits of the Wake Tech/NC A&T Technology Education Partnership joint workforce development; and collaborate on joint planning of potential cybersecurity and bioaccumulators in a new technology facility on the RTP campus.

Wake Tech and A&T are among 37 members of the Higher Education and Opportunity Task Force, which includes colleges and universities, McKinsey & Company and Strada Education Network. The task force was launched in 2020 to address the challenges of the pandemic, support a comprehensive economic recovery, and envision the future of higher education in a changing world of work.

A&T is Wake Tech’s second collaborative partnership. East Carolina University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology at its South Wake campus. ECU will co-exist at Wake Tech’s Eastern Wake 4.0 site when it finally opens in 2024.