For more than 75 years, the College of Education at NC State University has prepared leaders in education.  In the 21st century, we are poised to be a leader and innovator in the preparation of teachers, administrators, counselors, and other educational professionals who use technology to transform the learning process. The Friday Institute was created to address this goal. We are proud to be named in honor of William and Ida Friday, the former NC State graduate and president of the University of North Carolina system and his wife who have been passionate advocates for education for more than 50 years. 

The Friday Institute is on NC State University’s Centennial Campus, where close to 60 corporate and government organizations and business incubators work in partnership with faculty and students in a highly innovative environment. Our location and mission capitalize on NC State University’s long history of engagement in university and business partnerships, and its leadership role in economic development. We are also connected to the Centennial Campus Middle School and are working with school districts in rural North Carolina to extend access to technology for the development of innovative teaching and learning applications.

Cross sector collaboration among education, government and private industry has been a cornerstone of the Friday Institute since its inception. We raised $10 million in private donations from corporations and individuals for the Friday Institute building and garnered more than $10.5 million for research projects before the building opened last year, and we secured an annual $1.9 million operations budget from the N.C. state legislature.

Emerging technologies will continue to change how we communicate, teach, learn, and respond to an increasingly global society. Our history demonstrates the Friday Institute’s dedication to research and cross-sector collaboration that will empower educators and their students to be 21st century learners and leaders, contribute to our social and economic well being, and meet the challenges of a global knowledge society.

• Triangle J Council of Government Model School Task Force promoted a world-class system of public education in the Research Triangle area through a vision for three model schools: New Hope Elementary in Orange County, Hillside High School in Durham County, and Centennial Campus Middle School (CCMS) in Wake County on Centennial Campus.
• Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) and NC State College of Education signed a Lease Agreement for construction of a model middle school and for planning the Partners-in-School Research and Development Center.
• Model Middle School Committee was formed. John Arnold of the College of Education and Jo Baker of the WCPS co-chaired the WCPSS/NCSU Collaborative Planning Committee.

• CED Dean Joan Michael appointed Larry Watson (Associate Professor of Mathematics Education) as coordinator of the CCMS project.

• Nortel Networks donated $500,000 gift/pledge to the Partners-in-School Research and Development Center.

• Centennial Campus Middle School opened.
• Kathryn Moore joined the College of Education as Dean.
• Project renamed the Centennial Campus Center for Educational Innovation (CCCEI).
• CCCEI and CED technology projects showcased at the NC State Emerging Issues Forum.

• Dean Moore made presentation about the CCCEI concept to NCSU Board of Trustees.
• Anonymous donor contributed $5 million to name the Center in honor of William and Ida Friday. Name changed to The William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (The Friday Institute).

• Hiller Spires named Friday Institute Interim Director.
• Andy Overstreet named Project Manager.
• Hewlett Packard (HP) sponsored FI Discovery Workshop held at Exploris.
• NCSU and UNC Office of the President approved “Permission to Plan an Institute” process.
• Educator focus groups conducted across North Carolina to obtain input on the Friday Institute mission and programs.
• Progress Energy donated $25,000 gift to Friday Institute.
• Friday Institute Executive Committee named.
• Faculty Advisory Committee appointed.
• FI start-up funds acquired by NCSU Vice Chancellors Charles Moreland and John Gilligan.
• Friday Institute Collaboratory model created.
• Friday Institute Building Committee appointed.
• GlaxoSmithKline Foundation $1 million gift acquired in partnership with The Science House: Visualization in Science Education:VISE
• U.S. Department of Education grant acquired: School University Collaboration & Commitment to Excellence in Education Development.

• Hiller Spires named Director of Friday Institute.
• Plans for Friday Institute vision, mission and programs to College of Education faculty and staff.
• NCSU Board of Trustees and UNC Office of the President officially named The William and Ida Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.
• College of Education publicly announced the Friday Institute during naming event.
• Friday Institute received anonymous $1 million challenge match gift.
• Friday Institute virtual tour created.
• National Advisory Board established and first meeting held.
• Progress Energy donated $100,000 gift.
• Friday Forums established as ongoing discussion series to address key issues in education.
• WCPSS/Friday Institute Operations Council established.
• U.S. Department of Education grant acquired: MiddleData.
• U.S. Department of Education grant acquired: IMPACT.

• April groundbreaking celebration event held.
• Friday Institute leadership toured Stanford University's Wallenberg Hall to view innovative use of technology in the Center for Innovation and Learning.
• Fundraising completed for Friday Institute construction.
• Friday Institute building construction initiated.
• Friday Institute team presented at IBM site in Washington, DC.
• National Science Foundation grant acquired: Scale and Scaling Across the Science Domains.
• National Science Foundation grant acquired: Nurturing Mathematics Dreamkeepers
• U.S. Department of Education grant acquired: LANCET
• Hiller Spires and Gail Jones delivered keynote presentation at NCSU EDTECH Conference.

• Hiller Spires named Senior Director of Friday Institute.
• Technology upfit funding gifts and pledges received.
• Friday Institute/ WCPSS Operations Council adopted Shared Use Agreement.
• College of Education faculty-staff campaign raised $75,000.
• Friday Institute received IBM grant in partnership with the College of Engineering.
• Friday Institute received Cisco and HP technology gifts-in-kind.
• National Science Foundation grant acquired: Visualization in Science Technology Education: VisTE
• National Science Foundation grant acquired: Preparing to Teach Mathematics with Technology: PTMT
• UNC Office of the President’s e-Learning Initiative grant acquired: Growing Teachers in Rural North Carolina.
• ITEST NSF Program grant acquired: HIFIVES: Highly Interactive, Fun Internet Virtual Environments in Science.
• National Science Poundation grant acquired: RAMP-UP: Reorganizing Accelerated Mathematics Potential in Underrepresented People.
• Hosted inaugural Friday Institute retreat “Creativity, Innovation, and Collaboration.”
• Lisa Grable named Director of Learning Technologies.
• Andy Overstreet named Director of Operations.
• Hosted inaugural installment of Friday Institute Policy & Action Series titled, “No Child Left Behind & Leandro: Mandate & Means.”
• Technology Consultant Phil Emer joined Friday Institute.
• NC Legislature granted $1.9 million ongoing permanent operations budget for Friday Institute.
• Construction completed and building turned over to College of Education.
• Friday Institute official dedication and opening.
• Phil Emer named  Director of Technology and Systems Operations.

• Hosted and co-sponsored with SAS a Friday Forum featuring Richard Florida, the author of "Flight of the Creative Class.”
• Launched 21st Century Teaching and Learning initiative to deliver new teaching and learning services to schools in rural Northeastern North Carolina.
• Announced co-development of Technology Platform to deliver next-generation education services with Cisco, IBM, Nortel and SAS.