NBC is launching their new NBCU Academy with N.C. A&T and 16 other schools to continue their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
The full list of schools include:
Borough of Manhattan Community College in New York, NY
California State University, Fullerton in Fullerton, CA
Claflin University in Orangeburg, SC
Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA
Dallas College in Dallas, TX
El Camino College in Torrance, CA
Florida International University in Miami, FL
Hampton University in Hampton, VA
Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM
Miami Dade College in Miami, FL
Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD
North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, NC
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College in Orangeburg, SC
The City College of New York in New York, NY
University of North Texas in Denton, TX
University of Texas at El Paso in El Paso, TX
Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA
NBCU Academy will invest a total of $6.5 million to the initiative, including scholarships worth $3.5 million over the next two years. In addition to providing equipment and collaborating with professors to develop seminar courses, NBCU News Group journalists, executives and management from editorial and production teams across NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC and Telemundo News will participate as guest lecturers to provide real-world insight and mentorship.
Gail Wiggins, the interim chairwoman of the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication at N.C A&T, said she’s excited for the program and the benefits it will provide the journalism students.
“It is extremely gratifying to be part of a program at which diversity and inclusivity are at the forefront of the mission, Wiggins said. “Our students will benefit by the hands-on experiences, access to journalists, executives, and managers of NBCUniversal, scholarship opportunities, and numerous resources. The training will jumpstart their careers and gain them employment in the industry. This is an indicator of NBCU Academy’s commitment to developing and hiring new talent that reflects communities across the nation. I am delighted NC A&T is one of the academic partners.”
NBCU Academy builds on the foundation of NBC University, which NBC News launched nearly a decade ago as a training program for young journalism professionals at diversity journalism conferences and conventions, including at the Asian American Journalists Association, The National Association of Black Journalists, The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, National Association of Native American Journalists, the Online News Association and many more. NBCU Academy is an expansion of that initiative, offering new institutional partnerships.