Nelms Pushing for Higher Standards at NCCU

Durham, N.C. — In his first address to North Carolina Central University faculty, staff and students, Chancellor Charlie Nelms on Friday called for higher admissions and graduation standards at the school.

“Unless graduation is your destination, you shouldn’t be here,” Nelms said.

Beginning next fall, N.C. Central will increase its undergraduate admissions requirements for students, he said. Entering freshmen will have to have a 2.3 grade-point average, a SAT score of at least 720 and an ACT composite of 14.

Nelms unveiled a initiative for faculty and staff to provide better customer service, with the goal of improving student retention and graduation rates. The entire campus will undergo training provided by the human resources department, starting this fall.

“The primary goal is to improve the levels of efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness throughout the institution,” he said.

He also pledged to restore the aesthetics of the university and institute a clean streets program by having departments “adopt a block.”

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I applaud Mr. Nelms' efforts at increasing admission standards. In pasts posts, I have been rather critical of NCCU's academic requirements/achievements so this, in my opinion, is a positive step in striving to enhance an institution's image and credibility as well as attracting students that are serious about achieving. It not so much the size of the admission standards increase as it is the inference that accompanies the "increase."

yruatwit
September 29, 2007 11:27 a.m.

Although this may be interpreted the wrong way, "raising" the standards is not really what they should look at. That is unless they really increase it well beyond a 2.3/720/14. In reality the admissions process sets the standards. Think about it this way; how many universities do you all know that can not fill their admissions spots? I would really like to know what the average accepted student's GPA/SAT/ACT has been for the last decade or so.

Hans_Dieter_Peter
September 29, 2007 12:02 a.m.

"They are doing what every university/college does: trying to improve the institution. Nothing wrong with that at all. I'm sure some will use this as an excuse to add some cheap shots."

No, of course there's nothing wrong with it. In light of law2tech's posting, I'd say its way overdue. Those are community college level criteria, not UNC constitutent institution material.

elcid89
September 28, 2007 7:21 p.m.

“The primary goal is to improve the levels of efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness throughout the institution,” he said.

They are doing what every university/college does: trying to improve the institution. Nothing wrong with that at all. I'm sure some will use this as an excuse to add some cheap shots.

whoknew35
September 28, 2007 5:42 p.m.

Before the standards were 2.0 gpa and 710 SAT, not sure about the ACT.