The newly reinstated North Carolina A&T Board of Visitors isn’t anything like their name implies.  To find out more about the newest addition to the Aggie family, the A&T Register and the television station were given the chance to sit and chat with the Board’s Chair, Royall Mack, an alumnus of A&T, on Friday, Nov. 5.

The Board of Visitors is not to be confused with the University’s Board of Trustees. The trustees broad is part of a mandated legislation within every school in the University of North Carolina System.  The Chancellor works under the Board of Trustees, as they have the ability to hire or fire.  

The Board of Visitors, on the other hand, teams with the Chancellor to tackle issues on campus and give recommendations to which the Trustees would ultimately have to approve.  

 “The purpose [of the Board of Visitors] is really to serve as an advisory committee for the chancellor and his staff.  Our purpose is really to work with him and his deans on issues that he feels or they feel are relevant to the advancement and growth of the university,” said Mack.

Chancellor Martin put out the idea and received recommendations for the positions not long after getting instated.  Martin wanted people that were available to lend time, talents and a passion for solving problems and helping the university over the course of a 3-year term.  

That list was dissected and eventually led to the selection of the 35 members currently on the board.  The search is still underway to fill the remaining 25 seats.  Mack also suggested that he’d like to have at least one student on the board.

Having only met hours before at the inaugural meeting, Mack expanded on the few problems the board was able to identify within the realms of academic, public and student affairs.  He also revealed that the board was looking forward to building strong relationships with the newly elected public officials in the area.  In the interests of academics, the board quickly acknowledged the need to ensure that course requirements match what is necessary to obtain a job.

Mack and his fellow visitors also recognize the importance of the University increasing its marketing. Especially, beyond the realms of the School of Engineering, which is already well renowned.   

“Aggie Pride is great bumper sticker but that’s not your brand.  We’ve got to have a brand to tell individuals who we are.  We’ve got to think of A&T as a brand,” he added.

Mack expects that he and the Supervisors will have solutions for the branding and other identified issues when they reunite in April as they hope to see results before the beginning of the 2011 fall semester.

When asked about the overall energy of his board, Mack says, “The people are excited.”

• Charles Johnson