N.C. A&T Joins National Group Focused On Student Success by Neal Charnoff Courtesy N.C. A&T North Carolina A&T is one of two new members joining a group of universities focused on building student success rates. N.C. A&T and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County have both been selected to join The University Innovation Alliance. The consortium was founded with eleven members in 2014 to help grow the retention and graduation rates, particularly among low-income and minority students. It’s expanding for the first time in six years after significantly exceeding its projected goals. According to a news release, the Alliance’s next phase will adopt a focus on eliminating disparities based on race and ethnicity, while increasing its commitment to addressing income, generational, and ethnic inequities.