Written by Robin Clements

CALS is proud to boast a unique alternative pathway to students denied traditional freshman admission: PackTrac.

Developed in 2016, PackTrac provides guaranteed admission to students with an interest in under-represented CALS majors – and that admission could come after just one year at a North Carolina community college, unless the student prefers the traditional two year transfer plan.

Presently, PackTrac has formal agreements with Beaufort Community College and Fayetteville Technical Community College. Nine other institutions are nearing agreements or have expressed interest in this venture. For the 2017-2018 academic year, 12 students registered to participate in PackTrac with hopes of gaining admission to CALS for Fall 2018. Tricia Buddin, PackTrac coordinator, has goals for increased growth and program placement across the state in the coming years!

PackTrac is committed to deliberate and extensive advising from a student’s community college advisor and departmental representative in CALS. Successful PackTrac students admitted to the PackTrac program are able to meet all transfer requirements and complete one year of courses applicable to their future NC State degree, leaving three remaining years once the participant arrives at NC State.

Participating majors include:
• Agricultural Business Management
• Agricultural Education
• Agricultural & Environmental Technology
• Agricultural Science
• Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
• Animal Science – production ONLY
• Extension Education
• Horticultural Science
• Plant Biology
• Plant & Soil Sciences
• Poultry Science
• Soil & Land Development
• Turfgrass Science

You can learn more about PackTrac at cals.ncsu.edu/students/my-path-to-cals.