In a higher education landscape often dominated by rankings and test scores, 麻豆原创 (NCWU) is being recognized for what matters most: a transformative, student-centered undergraduate experience. For the 2025鈥2026 academic year, NCWU has been named a a prestigious designation awarded to institutions whose commitment to engaged learning, experiential education, and student success sets them apart.
This recognition is based on Colleges of Distinction鈥檚 unique evaluation framework known as the Four Distinctions: Engaged Students, Great Teaching, Vibrant Community, and Successful Outcomes. Through extensive research and in-depth interviews, Colleges of Distinction identifies colleges and universities that make a meaningful, measurable impact on students鈥 lives鈥攏ot those driven solely by rankings or prestige metrics.
鈥溌槎乖 has cultivated a campus culture where students are empowered to take ownership of their learning,鈥 said Tyson Schritter, Chief Operating Officer at Colleges of Distinction. 鈥淚ts programs reflect the innovation, intentionality, and personalized support that prepare students not just for graduation, but for life beyond college.鈥
Unlike traditional rankings, Colleges of Distinction highlights institutions that prioritize educational impact through high-impact practices such as first-year seminars, collaborative projects, undergraduate research, global learning, and internships. NCWU鈥檚 selection reflects its long-standing commitment to these practices and to providing individualized support throughout the student journey.
Business College of Distinction
In addition to its institutional recognition, NCWU has also been named a 2025鈥2026 Business College of Distinction, honoring the University鈥檚 undergraduate business programs for their balance of academic rigor and real-world application.
This distinction is awarded to schools that demonstrate accreditation, a well-rounded and multidisciplinary curriculum, applied learning opportunities, and a strong record of graduate outcomes.
鈥淣CWU understands that effective business education is about more than numbers鈥攊t鈥檚 about developing innovative, ethical leaders,鈥 Schritter said. 鈥淭hrough faculty mentorship, interdisciplinary coursework, and immersive learning experiences, students gain the skills and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly changing global economy.鈥
Colleges of Distinction highlighted NCWU鈥檚 School of Business for its:
- Stability and longevity, with a well-established program and consistent enrollment
- Multidisciplinary offerings, including majors and minors across multiple business disciplines
- Hands-on learning, such as internships, consulting projects, and networking opportunities
- Collaborative coursework, including case-method teaching and business plan competitions
- Strong emphasis on business ethics and social responsibility
- Dedicated academic and career advising
- High-impact educational practices, including capstones and service-based learning
- Robust industry connections that support internships and job placement
Graduates of NCWU鈥檚 School of Business leave with more than technical proficiency鈥攖hey develop leadership, critical thinking, and collaboration skills in environments that mirror the complexity of today鈥檚 marketplace.
Military Support College of Distinction
Further reinforcing its commitment to student success, NCWU was also named a Military Support College of Distinction, recognizing the University鈥檚 outstanding services and resources for veterans, active-duty service members, and military-affiliated students.
As more military students pursue higher education, Colleges of Distinction honors only select institutions that provide intentional, comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs.
鈥淩ather than viewing military students as a statistic, NCWU supports them as individuals鈥攅ach with their own goals, strengths, and challenges,鈥 Schritter said. 鈥淲e are proud to recognize institutions that go above and beyond to serve those who have served our country.鈥
Key elements of NCWU鈥檚 military support include:
- Comprehensive educational benefits, including participation in federal tuition assistance and training programs
- A dedicated Military and Veterans Affairs team to assist with enrollment, benefits, transition support, and career services
- Flexible academic options, such as online programs, flexible enrollment, and credit for military service
- Intentional campus community support, including dedicated spaces, student organizations, and counselors trained in areas such as PTSD and suicide prevention
鈥淎s a Military Support College of Distinction, NCWU has proven itself as a place where military-affiliated students aren鈥檛 just welcomed鈥攖hey鈥檙e championed,鈥 Schritter added.
Dr. Joseph Lane, NCWU Provost and Senior VP for academic affairs shares, 鈥淣orth Carolina Wesleyan takes pride in offering students degree pathways that fulfill our promise of a personal, practical, and purpose-driven education. We appreciate that Colleges of Distinction recognizes our superior educational outcomes and commitment to student success.鈥 聽
麻豆原创 Colleges of Distinction
Since 2000, Colleges of Distinction has been committed to recognizing schools across the United States for their exceptional contributions to higher education. Member institutions within the Colleges of Distinction consortium distinguish themselves through their unwavering focus on providing an outstanding undergraduate experience. Their website offers dynamic college profiles, customized tools, and valuable resources for students, parents, and high school counselors. For more information and to discover how to become a College of Distinction, visit .
NCWU Grad Hits Home Run with Internship Mentorship!
麻豆原创 (NCWU) continues to highlight the power of experiential learning and alumni engagement through a unique internship opportunity connecting a current student-athlete with a Bishop alumna working in professional sports.
NC Wesleyan student Brooklynn Covic, a communications major and member of the Bishops Volleyball team, gained hands-on experience this past summer as a Creative Video Intern with the the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Covic鈥檚 internship was guided by Callie Cline, a North Carolina Wesleyan alumna and the Grasshoppers鈥 Manager of Social Media and Media Services.
Covic鈥檚 journey began on campus, where she works as a student assistant with NC Wesleyan Athletics, creating social media content and graphics to promote Bishop athletic programs. That foundational experience helped prepare her for the professional sports environment she now navigates daily.
鈥淚 really hope to bring these skills back to our athletic department to continue capturing and celebrating our student-athletes,鈥 Covic said. 鈥淭his internship has allowed me to grow creatively and professionally while seeing how the skills I鈥檝e learned at NC Wesleyan translate to the real world.鈥
For Cline, the opportunity to mentor a current Bishop is both personal and purposeful. As a former NC Wesleyan volleyball student-athlete and multimedia intern, she understands the impact early professional experience can have on a student鈥檚 career trajectory.
鈥淚 wish I would have started sooner and prioritized internships and experience earlier,鈥 Cline said. 鈥淏eing able to give back and help a current student see what鈥檚 possible is incredibly rewarding. NC Wesleyan helped lay the foundation for my career, and it鈥檚 exciting to be part of that process for someone else.鈥
This internship reflects NC Wesleyan鈥檚 commitment to hands-on learning, career readiness, and fostering meaningful alumni connections. By creating opportunities that extend beyond the classroom, the university continues to prepare students for success in competitive professional fields.
For more information about internship opportunities and experiential learning at 麻豆原创, visit ncwu.edu.
NCWU Graduate to Ph.D. at Texas A&M University
Andy Rizzo, a standout graduate of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Class of 2025, has dual-earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Environmental Science. Hailing from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Andy chose NCWU for its small, welcoming campus and strong support for international students.
鈥淚 felt it would make my transition as an international student easier,鈥 Andy said. 鈥淏ut what made me stay was the community 鈥 the friends, faculty, and staff who made my college journey truly amazing.鈥
Andy鈥檚 time at Wesleyan was marked by involvement and leadership. She served as RA and Head RA, led both the Student Entertainment & Activities Team (S.E.A.T.) and the International Bishop Association, and was active in multiple honor societies and student organizations. Her dedication was recognized with several awards, including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, Environmental Science Award, Internship Award for her work at , and being crowned Homecoming Princess in 2023 and Homecoming Queen in 2024.
One of her biggest academic influences was Dr. Daniel Elias, under whom Andy conducted research on environmental pollutants. Dr. Elias reflected, 鈥淲atching Andy grow as a researcher has been one of the most rewarding parts of my work. Through her leadership on projects studying PFAS, salinity, microplastics, and predatory cues in Physa acuta, her presentations at multiple conferences, and her mentorship through the , Andy showed true academic growth, resilience, and responsibility. Beyond the lab, she also helped lead outreach efforts, native planting projects, and citizen science initiatives. I could not be prouder of her journey and everything still ahead.鈥
Now, Andy is heading to to pursue her Ph.D. in , backed by a teaching assistantship with Dr. Seemann. She鈥檒l be researching the effects of environmental pollutants on fish 鈥 continuing the meaningful work she started at Wesleyan.
鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful for my journey at Wesleyan,鈥 she said. 鈥淣one of my accomplishments would have been possible without the support of my parents, my friends from home and at Wesleyan, Mrs. Dawn Turner, and Dr. Daniel Elias.鈥
NCWU Students participate in NCDHHS Internship
ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 鈥 麻豆原创 students, Nayonna Bland and Makaela Stokes, have accepted an internship with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) as part of the department鈥檚 . This paid summer internship is a component of the department鈥檚 workforce development initiative to build a strong and inclusive workforce by increasing the number of human services professionals to provide for the growing number of residents in North Carolina.
鈥淲e are looking toward the future in NCDHHS by workforce that supports all North Carolinians,鈥 said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. 鈥淲e genuinely applaud each of these young professionals for their assistance in helping NCDHHS protect the health, safety and well-being of the people in our communities now and into the future.鈥
Stokes and Bland will be working on a project with NCDHHS鈥 Division of Health Benefits. The internship will last 10 weeks and will include work in the assigned project area, seminars, presentation practice and an immersion event at the end of the internship experience.鈥
鈥淣CDHHS is now in its 6th Cohort of HBCU/MSI Change Champion Interns, connecting with over 150 students since 2022. We are creating a strong and inclusive workforce by building a pipeline to the public health and human services professions for this generation,鈥 said Angela Bryant, NCDHHS鈥 Assistant Secretary for the Health Equity Portfolio. 鈥淣CDHHS is excited that Makaela and Nayonna have chosen to join 41 other graduate and undergraduate interns to help build the workforce needed to improve the health, safety and well-being of all North Carolinians.鈥
NC Wesleyan believes that student engagement is vital to rewarding social lives, strengthening leadership skills, and the desire to make a difference on campus and the community. We encourage students to get involved and make most of their collegiate experience. We are so proud of these Bishops for taking advantage of this opportunity and taking a step further to make most of their journey. Both of these students will be able to apply the skills learned during their internship with DHHS towards their respective careers in the social sector.
