James Carmichael Renick, a native of Rockford, Illinois, assumed the duties of chancellor on July 15, 1999. The installation of Dr. Renick as the ninth chancellor occurred on Thursday, April 20, 2000. Dr. Renick earned the Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Central State University in Ohio, the Masters of Social Work from the University of Kansas and the Doctor of Philosophy from Florida State University.
Dr. Renick, a recognized leader in the area of corporate/university relations, accomplished much since as chancellor. Several “firsts” are included in these accomplishments: the first NC A&T State University Medal for Human Rights was awarded on February 1, 2001 and A&T was the first of the UNC sixteen campuses to take advantage of new legislation that allows foundations to work with financial authorities to secure tax exempt bonds to fund capital building projects. On June 26, 2001, the University and Sit-In Movement, Inc. signed a collaborative agreement in order to accelerate the work to develop an International Civil Rights Center & Museum.
The University experienced record breaking enrollments of its undergraduate and graduate students. Institutional records for annual funding of sponsored research were set. The intention of the University was formalized through a strategic planning process called FUTURES wherein invited members of the university and the community joined together to provide institution-wide thinking about the future direction of NC A&T. From Generation to Generation: The Campaign for North Carolina A&T is the $100 million capital campaign that was established to support A&T in diversifying its resource base, in enhancing its curriculum to address changing educational needs and in building and renovating its physical plant with state-of the-art classrooms, facilities, and student housing. The Aggie Pride Compact, a document that outlines the standards A&T students are expected to live by, was written in 2003. Beautiful residence halls and classroom buildings have been erected. The A&T Four Monument, the landmark that honors the four freshmen students who sat-in at the downtown Woolworth in 1960 and Progress, a modern sculpture that is in the plaza of Craig Hall, adorn the campus.