General Information

Mission Statement

Fayetteville State University (FSU), a public comprehensive, historically black university, offers robust and innovative degree programs rooted in the liberal arts tradition. The university advances knowledge through the integration of teaching, learning, research, and public service. FSU strives to meet the educational, career, and personal aspirations of its students from rural, military, and other diverse backgrounds so that they are equipped with academic and practical knowledge to serve local, state, national, and global communities as enlightened citizens, globally astute leaders, and engaged solution creators. 

We accomplish our mission through:

• A rigorous academic environment.
• A student-centered education.
• Dedicated and scholarly faculty.
• Specialized offerings and services to meet the needs of traditional, online, non-traditional, and military affiliated students.
• Faculty and student engagement and partnerships with industry, employers, and the community.

Vision Statement

Fayetteville State University, the second oldest public university in North Carolina and a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System, will be the regional university of choice for students from rural, military, and other diverse backgrounds who are poised to become visionary leaders who transform communities, states and nations. 

Core Values

Integrity: Commitment to transparency.

Flexible and Adaptable: Producing career and life ready global citizens.

Shared Governance: Engaging all members of the university community in decision making.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Working collaboratively and effectively in a global society.

Collaboration and Partnerships: Strengthening relationships among alumni, community, and other stakeholders.

Innovative: Creatively pursuing excellence in organizational endeavors.

Culturally Connected: Preserving the university’s HBCU legacy and pride.

Administration

Board of Trustees

Administrative Officers

History

In 1867, seven black men - Matthew N. Leary, Jr., A. J. Chesnutt, Robert Simmons, George Grainger, Jr., Thomas Lomax, Nelson Carter, and David A. Bryant - paid $136 for two lots on Gillespie Street and converted themselves into a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees to maintain this property permanently as a site for the education of black children in Fayetteville. General Oliver O. Howard of the Freedman’s Bureau, erected a building on this site, and the institution became known as the Howard School. Robert Harris was selected as the principal.

By a legislative act of 1877, the North Carolina General Assembly provided for the establishment of a Normal School for the education of black teachers. The Howard School was chosen as the most promising because of its successful record during the previous ten years under the leadership of Robert Harris. Its name was changed to the State Colored Normal School and Harris remained as principal until his death in 1880.

Charles W. Chesnutt was principal from 1880 to 1883. He emphasized foreign languages, social graces, and intellectual development as keys to success. He resigned to pursue a literary career and indeed became one of the leading black American writers of fiction between 1887 and 1930.

Ezekiel E. Smith became the third principal in 1883 and would serve three different terms in this leadership position. His first term as principal lasted from 1883-1888. He expanded the curriculum to better prepare teachers for the public grammar schools. In 1888 George Williams became the principal and introduced a Speaker’s Series. Smith returned in 1895 after serving as an ambassador in Liberia. In 1898, he left to serve in the Spanish American War. Reverend Leonard E. Fairley served as acting principal until Smith returned in 1899.

Between 1899 and 1933, Dr. E.E. Smith’s vision for excellence in teaching would lay the framework for the Normal School to become a college. By the time he retired in 1933, the school had grown from three rooms in a small frame structure to a physical plant of ten buildings on a fifty-acre tract of land. Black and white citizens contributed funds along with Dr. Smith, F. D. Williston, E. N. Williams, J. G. Smith and Dr. P. N. Melchor, to purchase the initial forty acres of land. With the erection of the Aycock Building by the state in 1908, the school began its permanent residency on Murchison Road. Smith’s title was changed from principal to president in 1927. The Newbold School, a practice school for teachers, was erected on the campus in 1930. Dr. E.E. Smith’s ideas about teacher training set the pace for teacher education throughout the state. His years of service covered a span of fifty years-1883 to 1933.

Dr. James Ward Seabrook became the president in 1933. Under his presidency the school became Fayetteville State Teachers College, thereafter being authorized to grant the Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. Cultural activities, student organizations, and significant physical expansion contributed to the complete transformation from a normal school to a college. The college received both state and regional accreditation in 1947.

Dr. Rudolph Jones succeeded Dr. Seabrook in 1956. During his administration, the curriculum was expanded to include majors in secondary education and programs leading to degrees outside the teaching field. The name of the school was changed to Fayetteville State College in 1963. FSC students were active participants in the Civil Rights Movement of the sixties and helped to bring about integration in Fayetteville. Also, under the leadership of Dr. Jones, six additions were made to the physical plant to accommodate a rapidly expanding enrollment.

Dr. Charles A. Lyons, Jr. was appointed president in 1969 and the institution acquired its present name. By a legislative act in 1972, Fayetteville State University became a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System, and Dr. Lyons became its first Chancellor. During his tenure, the curriculum was expanded to include a variety of both baccalaureate and master’s level programs. The Fort Bragg-Pope AFB Extension Center, in conjunction with the Weekend and Evening College, was established in order to provide military personnel and other full-time working people with the opportunity to further their education. The general academic structure took its present configuration in 1985 when the university became a Comprehensive Level I Institution. In addition to expanding program offerings and services, eight buildings were added to the physical plant during this period.

On January 1, 1988, Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley became the eighth Chief Executive Officer of the university. In his seven years as Chancellor, the university expanded its master’s level program offerings to include biology, business administration, education, English, history, mathematics, psychology, and sociology, and FSU’s first doctoral program in Educational Leadership was established. Baccalaureate program offerings were also increased to include 36 disciplines in the arts and sciences, business and economics, and education. Hackley strengthened FSU’s community outreach to at-risk children in the public schools and established numerous scholarship and tutoring/mentoring programs to encourage more young people to aspire to academic excellence and a college education. FSU’s first major public Capital Campaign was also completed, which enabled the university to increase the number of privately funded scholarships. The student population doubled in numbers and in diversity during his administration. The addition of the ultra-modern School of Business and Economics Building and the Health and Physical Education Building underscored Dr. Hackley’s commitment to FSU’s continued expansion and growth. On December 31, 1994, Dr. Hackley left his post to become President of the North Carolina Department of Community Colleges, the first African-American to lead the state’s system of 59 community colleges.

Dr. Donna J. Benson, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University of North Carolina served as Interim Chancellor from January 1, 1995 to November 15, 1995. Capital improvements included renovation of dormitories and completion of the Distance Learning Center in the Communications Building. In 1995 Dr. Willis B. McLeod, a 1964 graduate of Fayetteville State University, became the ninth Chief Executive Officer of FSU and the first alumnus to serve as Chancellor. Among the initiatives he instituted were the “Freshman Year Initiative” (or F.Y.I.), a program designed to enhance students’ educational outcomes; new outreach efforts aimed at forging stronger community ties; and formed a regional partnership of public school, community college, and university leaders which focused on strengthening the educational pipeline from pre-school to post-graduate studies. Renovation and improvement of campus facilities were achieved, including all air-conditioned buildings. A strong cultural and fine arts series and fourteen CIAA championships bolstered Bronco Pride.

Dr. T. J. Bryan assumed the position of Chancellor on July 1, 2003. As the tenth chief executive officer of the university, Dr. Bryan was the first African-American woman selected to lead a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. Dr. Bryan developed new academic programs, obtained specialized accreditation for several programs, strengthened student recruitment and support programs, and improved buildings and grounds. Under her leadership, a four-year nursing program and an Honors Program were established.

In 2007, Dr. Lloyd V. Hackley returned as Interim Chancellor. He launched projects to carry out the initiatives of UNC Tomorrow, placed FSU on a sound course for fiscal solvency, and introduced a number of organizational changes for greater efficiency of operations.

Dr. James A. Anderson was named the eleventh Chief Executive Officer of Fayetteville State University on March 7, 2008. Under Chancellor Anderson’s leadership, the university established a five year strategic plan for growth, expanded academic program offerings, added global education and study abroad, and increased certification and accreditation of academic programs. The university expanded partnerships with universities, corporations, and the military. Outreach included service learning, a community computer center, a Veteran Center, the Early High School College, the Center for Defense and Homeland Security, and many collaborative cultural activities with community agencies.

Dr. Peggy Valentine has served as Interim Chancellor of Fayetteville State University since August 7, 2019. She is committed to preparing students from rural, military, and diverse backgrounds for high demand careers of the 21st century and beyond.  In line with the university’s vision, she hopes to  address health disparities, social justice, and improve the overall quality of life in disenfranchised communities. Additionally, Dr. Valentine’s dedication to FSU as a university of choice is augmented by its highly committed and scholarly faculty and staff, and cutting-edge academic programs.

Administration of the University of North Carolina

The Board of Governors

Randy Ramsey, Chairman
Wendy Floyd Murphy, Vice Chairman
Pearl Burris-Floyd, Secretary

History of the University of North Carolina

In North Carolina, all the public educational institutions that grant baccalaureate degrees are part of the University of North Carolina. Fayetteville State University is one of the 16 constituent institutions of the multi-campus state university.

The University of North Carolina, chartered by the N.C. General Assembly in 1789, was the first public university in the United States to open its doors and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century. The first class was admitted in Chapel Hill in 1795. For the next 136 years, the only campus of the University of North Carolina was at Chapel Hill.

In 1877, the N.C. General Assembly began sponsoring additional institutions of higher education, diverse in origin and purpose. Five were historically black institutions, and another was founded to educate American Indians. Several were created to prepare teachers for the public schools. Others had a technological emphasis. One is a training school for performing artists.

In 1931, the N.C. General Assembly redefined the University of North Carolina to include three state-supported institutions: the campus at Chapel Hill (now the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University at Raleigh), and Woman’s College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). The new multi-campus University operated with one board of trustees and one president. By 1969, three additional campuses had joined the University through legislative action: the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

In 1971, the General Assembly passed legislation bringing into the University of North Carolina the state’s ten remaining public senior institutions, each of which had until then been legally separate: Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, North Carolina Central University, the North Carolina School of the Arts, Pembroke State University, Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem State University. This action created the current 16-campus University. (In 1985, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential high school for gifted students, was declared an affiliated school of the University; and in 1996 Pembroke State University was renamed The University of North Carolina at Pembroke through legislative action.)

The UNC Board of Governors is the policy-making body legally charged with the general determination, control, supervision, management, and governance of all affairs of the constituent institutions. It elects the president, who administers the University. The 32 voting members of the Board of Governors are elected by the General Assembly for four-year terms. Former board chairmen and board members who are former governors of North Carolina may continue to serve for limited periods as non-voting members emeriti. The president of the UNC Association of Student Governments, or that student’s designee, is also a non-voting member.

Each of the 16 constituent institutions is headed by a chancellor, who is chosen by the Board of Governors on the president’s nomination and is responsible to the president. Each institution has a board of trustees, consisting of eight members elected by the Board of Governors, four appointed by the governor, and the president of the student body, who serves ex-officio. (The NC School of the Arts has two additional ex-officio members.) Each board of trustees holds extensive powers over academic and other operations of its institution on delegation from the Board of Governors.

Institutional Memberships and Accreditations

The university holds institutional membership in the following agencies and professional organizations:

The Adult Education Association, U.S.A.

American Association for Counseling and Development

The American Association for Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

The American Association of Colleges and Schools for Teacher Education (AACTE)

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

American Chemical Society (ACS)

The American Council on Education (ACE)

Association for Continuing and Higher Education (ACHE)

The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA)

Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology

Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC)

International Police Executive Symposium

The National Alliance of Business

National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO)

National Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)

The National Association of Business Teacher Education

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

The North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities

North Carolina Day Care Association

The Servicemen’s Opportunity College (SOC)

The Southern Conference of Graduate Schools (SCGS)

The university has achieved program accreditation, certification, and/or program approval from the following professional organizations:

Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)

Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS)

American Chemical Society (ACS)

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)

Forensic Science Education Program Accreditation Commission (FEPAC)

International Fire Science Accreditation Council (IFSAC)

National Association for Schools of Art and Design (NASAD)

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

North Carolina Board of Nursing (NCBN)

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI)

National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)

The Southern Association of Colleges and Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

United States Geospatial Foundation (USGIF)

Centers and Programs

Center for Defense and Homeland Security

The Center for Defense and Homeland Security was founded in 2010 and became fully operational in 2013. We are located within 10 miles of Ft. Bragg, the largest U.S. Army installation in the world and home of the elite Military Special Operations Forces. We partner with local, state, and federal agencies to leverage our research capabilities to develop innovative solutions to prepare the next generation of leaders within the STEM, cybersecurity, national security, and emergency management disciplines.

Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy

The Center for Economic Education and Financial Literacy is a non-profit and non-partisan institutional entity committed to promoting and imparting economic education primarily in southeastern North Carolina. The center is affiliated with The North Carolina Council of Economic Education and the National Council of Economic Education.

The objectives of the center are fivefold:

1. To improve on- and off campus teaching of economics, with particular emphasis on pre-service and in-service teacher training;
2. To consult with local schools, educational agencies, and community groups on matters relating to curriculum content, materials, and strategies;
3. To conduct research in economic education and disseminate updated information on economic issues in the community;
4. To mobilize community interest and support by developing cooperative working relationships with other groups committed to economic education;
5. To develop and distribute appropriate materials useful in the economic education effort.

For further information call 910-672-1370 and/ or visit https://www.uncfsu.edu/academics/colleges-schools-and-departments/college-of-business-and-economics/outreach-centers/center-for-economic-education.

College Access Programs

The Office of College Access Programs mission is to encourage and assist youth who are traditionally under-represented in post-secondary education with preparation for, entry into, and completion of a post-secondary education. The office provides a broad range of high-quality college preparatory services to students, parents, and educators in Cumberland, Hoke, and Robeson counties. These include the 21st Century Community Learning Centers, an afterschool program that assists middle and high school students in core subjects (math, reading, science, social studies) by providing expanded learning opportunities to increase school success; Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), a program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education beginning in middle school through the freshman year in college; TRiO Talent Search, a program that identifies and assists middle and high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education; TRiO Upward Bound, a program that provides high school students with academic support services and activities that will enhance their academic skills, thereby ensuring that they will complete high school and enroll in and complete a program of post-secondary education; and TRiO Upward Bound Math & Science, which helps high school students recognize and develop their potential to excel in fields in math and science and to encourage them to pursue postsecondary degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.

Continuing Education and Summer School

The Office of Continuing Education and Summer School extends the teaching, consultative, and research resources of Fayetteville State University into the local community. These resources, in concert with all other appropriate resources, are molded into an organized effort to meet the unique educational needs of individuals within the adult population who have either completed or interrupted their formal education, and to assist people in the area to identify and develop new, expanded, or improved approaches to the solution of community problems.

All extended learning activities at Fayetteville State University are categorized as Continuing Education Units (CEU)/Teacher Renewal Credit (TRC), academic credit, or non-credit. Such activities are designed to serve individuals needing further professional/career development; various forms of public affairs education; personal enrichment and cultural development; and skills training to meet the needs of professions or careers. Most non-credit continuing education activities are related to community service and include special programs affecting community-wide problems.

Consistent with the educational standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the University of North Carolina, all continuing education activities sponsored or co-sponsored by Fayetteville State University are organized under responsible and capable direction and are subject to systematic evaluation. For further information call (910) 672-1226.

The summer school program at Fayetteville State University is organized primarily for students desiring to make progress toward fulfilling requirements for undergraduate and graduate degrees. The curricula provided during the summer sessions are equivalent to those offered during fall and spring terms. Course offerings, both online and face-to-face, are determined by departments and schedules published during the fall semester. 

Faculty-led study abroad opportunities are also part of the program and are announced in August on the summer school website at www.uncfsu.edu/summerschool. Students wishing to participate must meet posted eligibility requirements, apply through the lead faculty for the trip, and pay a deposit in October to secure their place.

Curriculum Learning Resource Laboratory

Located in the Charles Waddell Chesnutt Library, the Curriculum Learning Resource Laboratory is designed to provide educational resources and equipment for pre-service and in service teachers, and faculty. The collections include state adopted textbooks, kits, films, transparencies, North Carolina state competencies, and audio-visual aids. For further information call 910-672-1391.

Distance Learning Center

The mission of the Distance Learning Center is to provide opportunities to faculty, staff, students, and external agencies in Southeastern North Carolina to participate in interactive classes and teleconferences via the North Carolina Information Highway (NCIH) and North Carolina Research Educational Network (NC-REN). Located in the Telecommunications Center, the Distance Learning Center offers convenient and cost-effective interactive access to a broad range of quality educational programming. Through the Center the university can acquire complete telecourses, short courses, audio-visual resources, training programs, and live teleconferences. These programs can be used in a variety of ways to increase distance learning opportunities, enrich classroom instruction, update faculty and administrators, expand community service, and enhance professional and career education. For further information call 910-672-1888.

Early Childhood Learning Center

The Fayetteville State University Early Childhood Learning Center, which serves children from three years through five years of age, is under the direction of the School of Education. It was established in the Fall of 1970 to provide early childhood education majors an opportunity to become familiar with young children and their characteristics, and to enable the translation of theoretical concepts into practical application. In addition to being a center for the training of early childhood personnel, the Early Childhood Learning Center also provides a learning environment that will help young children develop to their maximum potential physically, intellectually, socially, and emotionally.

The Early Childhood Learning Center serves not only the university, but the Fayetteville community as well, through its acceptance of children of either sex, children from any ethnic or religious orientation, and children with mildly handicapping physical and mental conditions.

The Cumberland County Department of Social Service Day Care unit refers as many of its Day Care applicants as space permits. The Developmental Evaluation Center refers children to the Center on an individual basis. The Early Childhood Learning Center holds the State of North Carolina, Department of Revenue Privilege License; State of North Carolina - Child Day Care “A” License; Level Two Certificate of Approval (Federal) from the Department of Human Resources - State of North Carolina Division of Social Service for Day Care of Children; and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Kindergarten/Early Childhood Division Certification. For further information call 910-672-1281.

Educational Opportunity Centers Program

The Educational Opportunity Centers Program (EOC) is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of providing assistance to adults who want to pursue a college degree. The services are offered to adults residing in Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson and Sampson Counties in North Carolina. EOC helps students choose a college, complete admissions applications, complete financial aid applications, choose a career, complete scholarship searches, and resolve loan defaults.

Educational Talent Search Program

Fayetteville State University’s Educational Talent Search Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of providing academic support services to middle and high school students who meet the federal eligibility criteria. The program is designed to serve fourteen targeted middle and high schools in Cumberland, Harnett, and Hoke counties in North Carolina. The goal of the program is to provide eligible students with academic support services and activities that will enhance their academic skills. These services will ensure that the participants complete high school and also enroll in and complete programs of postsecondary education.

Enrolled participants receive a variety of academic, educational and career support services, such as Tutoring in English, Reading, Math, Science and other subject areas; personal, academic, educational, social and career counseling; supplementary academic skills workshops; guidance on secondary school reentry and entry to programs of postsecondary education; exposure to careers in which disadvantaged individuals are particularly underrepresented; visits to college campuses and exposure to cultural events and other educational activities; assistance in preparing for college entrance examinations; assistance in completing college admissions and financial aid applications; orientation workshops for the parents of the program’s participants; drug awareness and teenage pregnancy prevention programs; mentoring programs involving the university’s faculty, staff, and students.

Prospective students who are interested in the Educational Talent Search Program are encouraged to visit the Special Programs Office in the Helen T. Chick Building, Room 108, or call 910-672-1172.

Extension Campus – Fort Bragg

The mission of the Fort Bragg Campus is to provide excellent education for all Fort Bragg military personnel, their dependents, Department of Defense (DOD) civilians, and citizens of the surrounding communities. Services conducted at the center include, but are not limited to, recruiting, admission, advising, degree programs, 8-week course offerings, and registration. In keeping with the current DOD Memorandum of Understanding, the Fort Bragg Campus provides a one-stop hub where military affiliated students can receive an education. Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Director of the Fort Bragg Center through email (military@uncfsu.edu) or mail (Box 70156, Fort Bragg, North Carolina 28307-5000). 

Undergraduate Programs Offered on Fort Bragg:

• Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
• Bachelor of Science in Birth-Kindergarten (Non-Teaching)
• Bachelor of Arts in Intelligence Studies
• FSU-FTCC Intelligence Studies (Civil Affairs Track)
• Bachelor of Arts in Professional Studies
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science-Public Administration
• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
• Bachelor of Arts in History

Graduate Programs Offered on Fort Bragg:

• Masters of Business Administration (MBA) 
  • General Business
  • Business Intelligence and Data Analytics
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Healthcare Management
  • International Business
  • Marketing
  • Management
  • Project Management
  • Supply Chain Management
• Masters of Arts in Sociology
• Masters of Arts in Special Education
• Masters of Arts in Teaching, Middle Grades Education 6-9, Mathematics Specialty Area
• Masters of Arts in Teaching, Middle Grades Education 6-9, Science Specialty Area

Fine Arts Resource Center

Housed in room 145 of the Rosenthal Building, the Fine Arts Resource Center (FARC) is a library and computer laboratory for music and the visual arts. The library section consists of records, tapes, musical scores, videos, filmstrips, and books (on music and art). It also includes equipment for viewing or listening to certain library materials, all of which are available on a check in/out basis. The computers in the FARC supplement classroom instruction by offering music history, theory and composition programs, as well as art-authoring and art history software for students in the visual arts. For further information call 910-672-1439.

GEAR UP

Fayetteville State University’s GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of providing academic support services to middle and high school students. The program serves students who attend Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle School and E.E. Smith High School. The program uses a cohort approach, by enrolling into the program each successive year all incoming 6th grade students at Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle. The program continues to serve all of the students in each cohort as they progress toward high school graduation. The goal of the program is to provide eligible students with academic support services and activities that will enhance their academic skills, thereby ensuring that these students will complete high school and enroll in and complete programs of post-secondary education.

GEAR UP services to students include: in-school and after-school tutoring, enrichment camps, academic support workshops, summer camps, after-school college clubs, job-shadowing, mentoring, academic advising, career and cultural field trips, and tours of colleges throughout the United States. Services to parents include: college planning and financial aid workshops, and personal advisement on how to prepare their child for college. School personnel services include: professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators to help raise expectations for teachers and students. For further information, call 910-672-1172.

Honors and Undergraduate Research Program

The Honors and Undergraduate Research Program promotes inclusive excellence, recognizing and rewarding outstanding academic and scholarly achievement throughout the curriculum. The program creates incentives for all students to achieve at a level that leads to graduation with distinction in a timely manner. The Honors and Undergraduate Research Program also provides opportunities for high-achieving students to enhance their educational experience through research or creative activity, experiential learning, and co-curricular engagement. The program prepares students to become civic leaders and to achieve personal well-being.

International Education

The Office of Honors and International Education provides educational opportunities to students who are interested in studying abroad. It assists international students who choose to study at Fayetteville State University. It also supports programs to promote global literacy throughout the curriculum.

Office for Adult Learners

The Office for Adult Learners serves as an advocate for all students who are over 23 years of age at Fayetteville State University. We are committed to helping students make the right connections to achieve the goal of completing a college degree. As an adult learner, we realize that you face a different set of challenges when it comes to finishing your education. The responsibilities of school, family, job, and whatever else is getting in the way of achieving your dreams can be discouraging.  We are here to serve your needs and help you accomplish what you set out to do.

Online Degree Completion Programs

FSU’s undergraduate online degree completion programs enable students to take upper-division (junior and senior level) courses online to complete their degrees. Online Degree Completion (ODC) students must have completed all university and program core requirements, or be dual enrolled with a partnering community college prior to admittance to an ODC program.

• Accounting, B.S.  
• Birth through Kindergarten, Non-Teaching, B.S.  
• Business Administration, General Business Concentration, B.S.  
• Criminal Justice, B.S.  
• English Language and Literature, B.A.   
• Fire and Emergency Services Administration, B.S.  
• History, B.A.  
• Intelligence Studies, B.A.  
• Nursing
• Political Science, B.A.  
• Interdisciplinary Studies, B.S.  
• Psychology, B.S.  
• Sociology, B.A.  

Current students who seek to change their major to an online degree completion major must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0. The Bachelor of Science in Birth through Kindergarten (Non-Teaching) requires a cumulative GPA of 2.5.

Interested students should consult with department chairs or other departmental representatives for additional requirements specific to their chosen programs.

Residence Halls

Living in the residence halls provides students a unique experience that will enhance their overall education at Fayetteville State University. The residence halls at FSU provide amenities that are comparable to home. All rooms are fully furnished, have cable television connections, wired and wireless internet connects, and controlled heat and air conditioning. Most residence halls are equipped with wide-screened televisions in the lounge and all have free laundry services for residents. Students choose from a variety of living options: ten residence halls and an apartment complex. Most students are permitted to choose their own roommate, if space permits. Residence hall applications can be accessed from the MyHousingPortal located on the Department of Residence Life webpage. For further information, call (910) 672-1884.

Rosenthal Gallery

The Rosenthal Gallery, located in the Rosenthal Building, is operated through the Department of Performing and Fine Arts. The gallery installs temporary exhibitions of regional, national, and international works; includes FSU faculty and student exhibitions; and hosts an annual High School Competition and an annual National Competition.

The Rosenthal Gallery offers services that supplement the curriculum through exhibits, lectures and seminars, and serves as a cultural component of the campus and the region.

Servicemen’s Opportunity College

Fayetteville State University is a Servicemen’s Opportunity College. The Servicemen’s Opportunity College is a network of institutions across the country and overseas that have recognized and have responded to expectations of servicemen and women for adult continuing education.

Small Business and Technology Development Center

The Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is a business development service of The University of North Carolina system. The SBTDC provides management counseling and educational services to small and mid-sized businesses in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. SBTDC services target established firms, high-growth companies, and start-up businesses and help them meet today’s challenges, manage change, and plan for the future.

The SBTDC employs over 50 management counselors in 17 offices across North Carolina – each affiliated with a college or university. Services are well defined and are designed to meet the clients’ needs.

The primary focus of the SBTDC is management counseling, addressing issues including financing, marketing, human resources, operations, business planning, and feasibility assessment.

The SBTDC also provides targeted, research-based educational products which are focused on change management, strategic performance, and leadership development for your management team, board members, and employees.

In addition, the SBTDC offers specialized market development assistance in government procurement, international business, marine trades services, and technology development and commercialization. These services are specifically designed to aid growing companies in expanding their markets and increasing competitiveness.

For further information, please call the SBTDC’s FSU campus office at 910-672-1627.

Study Abroad Program

The Fayetteville State University Study Abroad Program provides opportunities for students to study in a number of foreign countries while receiving college credits and practical experience. The program provides study opportunities abroad during the Fall and Spring semesters and Summer sessions.

All study abroad transactions must be coordinated by and processed through the Office of International Education and approved by the Director of Summer School or the Office of International Education and approved by the Study Abroad Advisor. Admission is open to university students in at least their sophomore year with a good academic standing (GPA of at least 2.5). Graduate students and secondary school teachers are also eligible. Interested students for short-term faculty-led study abroad programs should contact the Office of Continuing Education and Summer School in College of Business and Economics Suite 130 or call (910) 672-1228. Interested students for other study abroad programs should contact the International Education Office in Smith Hall Suites 108 and 115 or call (910)672-1957/2153.

Teaching Licensure Opportunities for Transitioning Soldiers

Fayetteville State University, in cooperation with the Fort Bragg Education Center, offers a program of Teacher Licensure Opportunities for Transitioning Soldiers (TLOTS) through the School of Education. This program allows transitioning soldiers who have a maximum of two years of active duty remaining and hold at least a B.A. or B.S. degree to enroll in a teacher licensure program. For program requirements, contact the College of Education.

University Library

The Charles Waddell Chesnutt Library is the central research facility for Fayetteville State University and the surrounding community. Named for Charles Waddell Chesnutt, who was the third president of the institution and the first successful African-American novelist, the library is a four-level contemporary building providing nearly 80,000 square feet of space, seating for approximately 800 patrons, and a capacity for 500,000 volumes and over one million items of microform. The library currently has in its holdings in excess of 226,000 volumes; 21,422 reels of microfilm; 890,000 pieces of microfiche; 3,195 periodicals; and 56 newspapers. It is also a selective depository for state and federal documents.

The Chesnutt Library meets the informational needs of the university community by offering a variety of services and special features. These include the following: electronic ordering in the acquisitions area; online cataloging and circulation system; remote access to its online public access catalog; access to Internet; local area network for CD-ROMS; fax machine; computerized information retrieval; audio-visual production; microform reading and copying facilities; computer terminals; microcomputers for users; media listening, viewing, and videotaping capabilities; and small, medium, and large group-study rooms, seminar rooms, and the J. C. Jones Boardroom. There are numerous displays and exhibits throughout the building.

The library also has an Archives and Special Collections area. The Archives section is responsible for maintaining a collection of official records, manuscripts, and materials relating to Fayetteville State University. The Special Collections section contains the papers and materials of Charles Waddell Chesnutt, James Ward Seabrook, and other African-Americans and individuals who have made noteworthy contributions to southeastern North Carolina. The Special Collections section also includes selected materials by and about African-Americans. These materials are available to scholars and researchers from the university and the community.

Professional and support staff are available to assist patrons with the online public access catalog, circulation, reference, and Inter-Library Loan services, and to provide informational tours, lectures, and classroom instruction. Extensive use is made of electronic databases and networks in the retrieval of information (e.g., NC LIVE, FirstSearch, Internet) for use by library users.

Each student enrolled at the university receives an identification card that also serves as the Library Card for borrowing materials. In addition, all students are provided library brochures that acquaint them with the facilities, services, rules, and regulations governing use of the library and library materials. A handbook is also provided as a guide to the efficient use of the library.

Members of the public may gain access to Chesnutt Library services by joining the “Friends of the Charles W. Chesnutt Library.” For information, call 910-672-1232.

University Police and Public Safety

Fayetteville State University strives to provide students with reasonable security while they are pursuing academic study and living in University residence halls. The Fayetteville State University Police Department is a campus law enforcement agency authorized by the Board of Trustees under Chapter 116 of the North Carolina General Statutes with full police powers equivalent to those of a Municipal Policy Agency.

The department is organized in three divisions: The Operations Division provides police patrol and crime prevention services to the campus twenty-four hours a day; the Administrative Division provides investigation services as well as twenty-four hour emergency telephone and police dispatch services; and the Traffic and Parking Division performs campus parking permit and parking citation functions. Night escort services between campus buildings may be requested by calling 672-1295. Answers to questions regarding parking may be requested 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday by calling 672-1726. Call 910-672-1911 in the case of an emergency.

University Testing Services

University Testing Services is a clearinghouse of information about testing and assessment resources. Scanning and scoring of test documents, surveys, and questionnaires are regularly provided as well as assistance with test administration. University Testing Services offers many programs and services to the Fayetteville State University and local communities. These services include computerized placement testing, computer-based interest and personality assessments, computerized test preparation for standardized tests such as the GRE, GMAT, SAT, and a comprehensive collection of assessment resources, including reference books and video presentations for test taking and study skills development.

Nationally administered test programs such as the Graduate Record Examination, Scholastic Assessment Tests, Graduate Management Admission Test, the PRAXIS Series Examinations, the Law School Admission Test, the Miller Analogies Test, the CLEP tests, and TOEFL are administered through University Testing Services.

In Fall 1998, University Testing Services became a Computer-Based Test site as it migrated to computer-based testing for some of its national test programs, including GRE, GMAT, NBPTS, the PRAXIS (Pre-Professional Skills Test), and the TOEFL. Computer-based testing is now available year-round. Examination candidates may make an appointment for a computer-based test by calling a toll-free number (refer to program specific Information Registration Bulletin) or University Testing Services at 672-1815 or 672-1301.

University Testing Services provides accommodations for examination candidates with special needs in accordance with the test administration provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In order to reasonably accommodate an individual with a special need, the test center must be informed in advance of the testing appointment. To test under special conditions, the examination candidate must make arrangements with the testing company sponsoring the examination.

University Testing Services is a member of the National Collegiate Testing Association (NCTA), the Consortium of College Test Centers, the National Council on the Measurement in Education. UTS also endorses the Professional Standards and Guidelines for Postsecondary Test Centers and is guided by Fair Test Policies and the Code of Fair Testing Practices.

Upward Bound Program

Fayetteville State University’s Upward Bound Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Education for the purpose of providing academic support services to high school students who meet the federal eligibility criteria. The program is designed to serve seven (7) target high schools (9-12) in Cumberland, Harnett and Hoke Counties, in North Carolina. In order to meet the selection criteria, students must be from low-income families, potential first generation college students and/or disabled. The goal of the program is to provide eligible students with academic support services and activities that will enhance their academic skills, thereby ensuring that these students will complete high school and enroll in and complete programs of post secondary education. The Upward Bound program consists of a nine-month Academic Year Component, a six-week residential summer component for program participants, and a Summer Bridge Program for recent high school graduates who participated in Upward Bound. For further information, call 910-672-1172.

Veterans Affairs

The Veterans Affairs Office, under the direction of the Student Support Services Department, is located in Bronco Square. This institution is approved by the North Carolina State Approving Agency for the enrollment of persons eligible for education assistance benefits from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). For information about monetary benefits contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Winston-Salem, NC at 1-800-827-1000. For information about the available programs at this institution contact the Campus Veterans Assistant Specialist at 910-672-1628.