Fayetteville State University is a historically black urban university located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The university, while part of the University of North Carolina System, is largely autonomous from the system, as are the other 15 four-year universities in North Carolina. Fayetteville State University is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The student body of over 6,300 attending the 96-acre Fayetteville State University receive an education with a basic liberal-arts foundation. Primarily awarding degrees at the baccalaureate and master’s levels, Fayetteville State University offers bachelor degrees in 43 areas, master’s degrees in 22 areas, and one doctoral degree in educational leadership. Recently added undergraduate degree programs include biotechnology, communications, forensic science, and management information systems.
About 37% of the freshmen class in 2008-2009 was male and 63% were female. Undergraduates comprised 90% of the enrolled students, and graduate students accounted for the other 10%. Students living in the United States made up 100% of the incoming freshmen. Among freshmen students, 99% are full-time and 1% are part-time. Fayetteville State provides on-campus housing for about one-fifth of the full-time student body.
Fayetteville State University contracted for on-campus shuttle bus services in October 2006, as students had to cross Murchison Road from their University housing to the University campus. However, after the University ruled against on-campus automobiles for freshmen during the 2008 fall semester, additional off-campus shuttle bus services were added to provide student transportation to local malls, restaurants, and retail stores.
Founded in 1867, the Fayetteville State University has a long history of providing quality education. In 1867, seven black citizens of Fayetteville, North Carolina purchased two lots on Gillespie Street and formed a Board of Trustees to maintain the property, named the Howard School, for the education of black youth. In 1877, an act of the North Carolina legislature provided for the establishment of a teacher training institution for black North Carolinian residents, and the Howard School was selected to become the first state-sponsored institution for the education of African-American teachers in the South. It was renamed the State Colored Normal School in 1877, Fayetteville State Teachers College in 1939, Fayetteville State College in 1963, and Fayetteville State University in 1969.
Fayetteville State University maintains a wide range of programs for the benefit of the Fayetteville community. Local residents are welcome to attend the Fine Arts Concert Series sponsored by the Department of Performing and Fine Arts at the University. Performances by chamber groups, operas, and concerts featuring local residents and university students are generally free-of-charge and open to the public. The Planetarium and Observatory is also frequented by area residents. In addition, the University offers programs at the planetarium geared toward local schools for children in grades K-12 by arrangement.
Fayetteville State University offers students the opportunity to participate in 10 NCAA sports, including men’s football, basketball, track, and golf. The women’s programs include basketball, volleyball, softball, track, tennis, and bowling. The University is a member of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (Southern Division), which consists primarily of historically black colleges and universities. The Fayetteville State University’s athletic moniker is the Broncos.
