[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1361 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 1361

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                          May 20, 2010.
Whereas North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, North Carolina, was 
        chartered in 1909 as a private institution and opened to students on 
        July 5, 1910;
Whereas the school was founded by Dr. James E. Shepard as the National Religious 
        Training School and Chautauqua for the Colored Race with the purpose of 
        developing African-American men and women into citizens of fine 
        character and sound academic training;
Whereas the school's name was changed to the National Training School in 1915, 
        following its sale and reorganization;
Whereas the school became a publicly supported institution in 1923 under the 
        name of the Durham State Normal School, with funding from the North 
        Carolina General Assembly;
Whereas the General Assembly rededicated the institution as the North Carolina 
        College for Negroes in 1925, making it the Nation's first State-
        supported liberal arts college for African-American students;
Whereas the college saw significant expansion between 1927 and 1929 through 
        additional funding from the General Assembly, a generous gift from B.N. 
        Duke, and contributions from the citizens of Durham;
Whereas the college was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and 
        Secondary schools as a class ``A'' institution in 1937, and gained 
        membership in that association in 1957;
Whereas the college was authorized to offer graduate studies in 1939, which led 
        to the establishment of the School of Law in 1940 and the School of 
        Library Science in 1941;
Whereas the General Assembly changed the name of the institution to North 
        Carolina College at Durham in 1947 and, finally, to North Carolina 
        Central University in 1969;
Whereas NCCU became part of the consolidated University of North Carolina 
        system, which includes all 16 of North Carolina's public institutions 
        that grant baccalaureate degrees, in 1972;
Whereas the university was led by Dr. Shepard from its inception until his death 
        on October 6, 1947, and was led subsequently by Dr. Alfonso Elder, Dr. 
        Samuel P. Massie, Dr. Albert N. Whiting, Dr. LeRoy T. Walker, Dr. 
        Tyronza R. Richmond, Julius L. Chambers, Dr. James H. Ammons, and Dr. 
        Charlie Nelms;
Whereas NCCU currently offers bachelors degrees in more than 100 fields of study 
        and awards graduate degrees in about 40 disciplines;
Whereas the U.S. News and World Report recently ranked NCCU the number-one 
        Public Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the country, 
        the number-one HBCU in North Carolina, and one of the top ten HBCUs in 
        the country overall;
Whereas the NCCU School of Law has been named the ``Best Value Law School'' in 
        the Nation by National Jurist magazine for two consecutive years;
Whereas NCCU has a state-of-the-art biotechnology research institute that 
        collaborates with pharmacy and biotechnology companies in the Research 
        Triangle area of North Carolina and trains students to meet the State's 
        biotechnology workforce needs;
Whereas the university is home to the ``Marching Sound Machine,'' an award-
        winning marching band that will be performing on New Year's Day 2011 in 
        the Rose Parade, and the NCCU Jazz Ensemble, which recently performed in 
        the Newport Jazz Festival;
Whereas NCCU sports teams have won 41 conference championships, three NCAA 
        regional titles, and two national championships (1989 NCAA Division II 
        men's basketball and 1972 NAIA men's outdoor track and field);
Whereas more than 50 student-athletes from NCCU have won individual NCAA and 
        NAIA national championships;
Whereas student-athletes representing NCCU competed in every Olympic Games from 
        1956 to 1976 in track and field, capturing eight Olympic medals during 
        that time period, including five gold medals;
Whereas NCCU was the first State university in North Carolina to establish 
        community service as a requirement for graduation and has been 
        recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as a ``community-engaged 
        university'';
Whereas NCCU has graduated approximately 40,000 students in the century since 
        its founding and now has the largest freshman class in its history, with 
        an overall record enrollment of more than 8,500 students; and
Whereas NCCU and its home city of Durham, North Carolina, have long enjoyed a 
        close and mutually beneficial relationship, with the University's total 
        economic impact on Durham and the surrounding region estimated at more 
        than $300,000,000 per year, and thousands of NCCU graduates have served 
        Durham and its citizens as leaders, educators, professionals, 
        entrepreneurs, and volunteers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, that the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the memory of Dr. James E. Shepard for his role in 
        founding North Carolina Central University;
            (2) celebrates the 100th anniversary of North Carolina Central 
        University, recognizes the University's accomplishments over the past 
        century, and encourages North Carolina's citizens to participate in 
        activities marking this historic occasion; and
            (3) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make 
        available five enrolled copies of this resolution to Dr. Charlie Nelms, 
        the current Chancellor of North Carolina Central University.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.