R.N. Harris Elementary School has been named the 2025 Community Partner Award recipient for its partnership with North Carolina Central University (NCCU).
Located in Durham, North Carolina, R.N. Harris is an Integrated Arts/Core Knowledge Magnet School serving Pre-K through fifth grade students. For more than a decade, its collaboration with NCCU has helped students excel academically, behaviorally and socially, while reinforcing NCCU’s commitment to ‘Truth and Service.’
The award, presented by North Carolina Campus Engagement (NCCE) at the Pathways to Achieving Civic Engagement (PACE) Conference on Feb. 12, recognizes organizations that enhance community life in measurable ways and maintain sustained, reciprocal partnerships with NCCE member institutions. This collaboration is an example of how mutually beneficial partnerships can create lasting impact.
Fittingly, both institutions share the Eagle as their mascot—a symbol of their shared mission to uplift and empower students.
“Our partnership with NCCU exemplifies the power of university-assisted community schools. It has significantly enriched our educational environment and provided our students with resources and experiences that extend far beyond the traditional classroom,” said an R.N. Harris representative in the nomination package.
A Decade of Impactful Collaboration
The America READS program has been a cornerstone of the collaboration since 2013.
Coordinated by NCCU’s Office of Engagement and Service, students provide one-on-one tutoring to K-3 students reading below grade level. Results show notable improvements:
- 24% increase in word recognition
- 22% increase in reading fluency
- 20% increase in vocabulary
The program directly supports R.N. Harris’ goal of having every child read at grade level by the end of third grade.
Beyond the Classroom: Enriching Literacy and Learning
NCCU has also fostered a love for reading at R.N. Harris through:
- Book drives, where faculty, staff, administrators and students donate books
- The Read Across America program, encouraging literacy engagement
- A Read-a-Thon, featuring students, faculty and administrators alongside R.N Harris volunteers during National Literacy Week
- The National African American Read-in, celebrating various representations of literature and aligning with NCCU's commitment to cultural awareness.
Innovative Programs that Inspire
Beyond literacy, other initiatives include:
- The 1908 Project and Career Fair, facilitated by the university’s Office of New Student and Family Programs, which exposes elementary students to higher education and career opportunities
- The Aramark Nutrition Project, providing nutrition and food support
- NCCU School of Library Sciences’ programming, enhancing information literacy skills
- Campus field trips, giving students early exposure to college life
While R.N. Harris students gain invaluable resources, NCCU students—especially education majors—benefit from real-world teaching experiences that fulfill graduation and licensure requirements.
The NCCE is a collaborative network of 40 colleges and universities committed to educating students for civic and social responsibility, partnering with communities for positive change, and strengthening democracy. Learn more at www.nccampusengagement.org.