In the 1950s, officials told the mothers of North Carolina that if they didn’t support the nascent Research Triangle Park, their sons would move up north and marry Yankees and they’d never see their grandchildren. “It’s very different today,” Bob Geolas, the president and CEO of the Park, says in the accompanying interview. “Our universities… READ MORE
CHAPEL HILL — In the largest donation ever to UNC-Chapel Hill, pharmaceutical executive Fred Eshelman is giving $100 million to the School of Pharmacy that already bears his name. “We must be relentless in our pursuit of pre-eminence — and I mean pre-eminence,” Eshelman said at a jubilant ceremony announcing the gift. “We must help… READ MORE
When he first went to the NC School of Science and Mathematics in 11th grade, Ryan O’Donnell didn’t become a techie – he became a humanist. But for O’Donnell, that wasn’t an either/or choice. Now a senior at NC State University, O’Donnell thrives on reaching across disciplines to use technology to solve human problems. In May, he’s on track… READ MORE
Engineering majors are in high demand. According to data from the Census Bureauand Payscale.com, graduates in engineering can expect some of the best starting salaries and lifetime earnings of all college graduates. According to the N.C. Department of Commerce, mechanical, electrical, construction, and computer engineers can all expect salaries well above $60,000 within five years of graduating…. READ MORE
A well-educated workforce is a prime consideration when companies make decisions around opening, relocating or expanding their operations. This sampling of headlines from around North Carolina highlights the powerful connection between higher education and the economic health of the State. Sign up for our mailing list to stay on top of all the issues surrounding public… READ MORE
Former GlaxoSmithKline CEO and Chairman Robert Ingram feels that North Carolina Community College graduates are well-prepared for the state’s ever-growing pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing job market. Ingram explains that this was an integral factor in Glaxo’s decision to site and grow their Zebulon, NC production facility. He notes that schools like Wake Technical Community College… READ MORE
How important is a college degree when getting a job? In 2012, the unemployment rate for people with a 4-year college degree is a whopping 7 points lower than the unemployment rate for those that have a high school diploma. Achieving a degree is one of the surest ways to set yourself up for success…. READ MORE
North Carolina’s constitution includes an unusual provision that requires the state legislature to provide North Carolinians with a college education for “as far as practicable … free of expense.” John Sanders, the man who wrote those lines in the state’s 1971 constitution, talks about the history of the provision, as well as what might happen… READ MORE
Fifty-five years ago, Research Triangle Park was nothing more than pine forest and a vague idea. Today, it has become the largest, most successful research park in the country. As CEO of Glaxo Wellcome, Bob Ingram saw his company grow with RTP. But he isn’t taking the park’s success for granted. As chairman of the… READ MORE