Founded by James E. Shepard in affiliation with the Chautauqua movement in 1909, it was supported by private funds from both Northern and Southern philanthropists.

It has been part of the University of North Carolina system since 1972 and offers programs at the baccalaureate, master's, professional, and doctoral levels.

North Carolina Central University was founded by James E. Shepard as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua for the Colored Race in the Hayti District.

In 1925, reflecting the expansion of its programs to a four-year curriculum with a variety of majors, the General Assembly converted the institution into the North Carolina College for Negroes, dedicating it to the offering of liberal arts education and the preparation of teachers and principals of secondary schools.

At the time of Elder's election he was serving as head of the Graduate Department of Education and had formerly been dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

[8] Whiting was succeeded by LeRoy T. Walker as chancellor, followed by Tyronza R. Richmond, Julius L. Chambers (who had previously been director-counsel (chief executive) of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund), James H. Ammons, Charlie Nelms, and Debra Saunders-White in 2013.

[12] North Carolina Central University has over 130 registered student organizations and 12 honor societies.

The students of North Carolina Central University publish the Campus Echo, a bi-weekly newspaper that has been in publication since the school's founding in 1910.

[19][20] The Campus Echo contains articles covering local events, arts and entertainment, and sports among other topics.

Athletic teams include football, softball, baseball, basketball, track and field, tennis, volleyball, bowling, and golf.

Dr. LeRoy Walker, emeritus chancellor of NC Central University and the former first black President of the United States Olympic Committee inducted her into the NCCU Athletic HOF.

Diedra Solomon is a member of the NC Central University’s first CIAA Tournament Championship Women’s Basketball Team.

She helped lead her team to the first NCAA Tournament appearance in NC Central University’s history.