NC State and BCCC Collaborate on Ag and Life Science Degrees

Future Wolfpack who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in their choice of 13 majors at North Carolina State University can now start their coursework at Beaufort County Community College. The two institutions have partnered on a program called PackTrac, a collaboration that will help students seamlessly transfer their coursework from BCCC to NC State. All 13 of the majors are in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. BCCC is only the third community college to finalize its PackTrac program with NC State. The program already has enrolled its first student: Brooke Butler, who plans to major in agricultural education.

Colleges around the state may have different required coursework tied to a major. PackTrac provides admission of BCCC students into NC State who meet the criteria and are going into majors with the most job opportunities. The PackTrac program clearly defines all of the classes and requirements students will need to transfer. The program also sets up advisors on both sides to help with the transition.

Among the degrees that students can pursue are agricultural business management, agricultural & environmental technology, animal science, horticultural science and plant biology. These degrees can set students up for careers in livestock management, agribusiness and crop management, as well as other life sciences. With growing populations, a limited amount of farmland, and an increased concern for water quality and healthy foods, the field is full of opportunities for innovation. The future of farming will see more technological integration, including drones and other “smart” technologies.

“Students with a bachelor’s degree in life sciences can open up more doors for themselves,” said Lisa Hill, Dean of Arts and Sciences at BCCC and the advisor for the PackTrac program. “We have a huge agricultural sector in this area. The future of farming is not about a person riding a tractor. It is a person operating a fleet of tractors remotely or programing irrigation systems.”

“Our students can start their degrees in an environment that is close to home, and receive personal help from instructors,” Hill continued. “They can then continue at NC State where they can have access to a broader range of in-depth classes that will set them up for careers in agriculture and life sciences. We want to make sure that as they transfer to NC State, we guarantee that their achievements at BCCC will be honored.”

“We are eager to partner with community colleges such as Beaufort County to offer opportunities to students in agriculture and life sciences,” said Dr. Richard Linton, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at NC State. “This dynamic industry is the largest in North Carolina and is in need of skilled employees that BCCC and NC State can provide.”

Dr. John Dole, Associate Dean & Director of CALS Academic Programs, appreciated the program, as he completed his first year at a community college. “We have so many students who want to enroll in our programs, but we are limited in how many we can accept. By partnering with community colleges we can expand these opportunities to students across the state,” he said. “At NC State we like to say, ‘It’s not where you start; it’s where you end up.’”

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina. It began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, the pre-eminent research university excels in science, technology, engineering, math, design, the humanities and social sciences, textiles and veterinary medicine.

Beaufort County Community College provides accessible and affordable quality education, effective teaching, relevant training and lifelong learning opportunities to the people of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington Counties.

For more information about the PackTrac program, contact Lisa Hill at 252-940-6223 or lisa.hill@beaufortccc.edu.