Nice To E-Meet You

The story of Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions began in June 2020, a moment of unprecedented uncertainty in education. With the COVID-19 pandemic closing campuses and pushing the education world to remote learning, NC State’s Enrollment Management and Services (EMAS) faced a pressing question: How do we engage with students when we can’t meet them in person?

With just five weeks to prepare, EMAS partnered with the Provost’s Office, Digital Education and Learning Technology Applications (DELTA), Inclusive Excellence (IE), and the NC State University Libraries to create a brand-new, fully online course for more than 5,000 incoming first-year students to take the summer before their first semester.

The vision was a dynamic virtual experience that would introduce students to NC State’s culture of learning, collaboration and problem-solving. To achieve this, the course needed to be interdisciplinary — demonstrating how experts across fields work together to address the world’s most pressing challenges. And so, Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions was born.

Think and Do … Times 2

Jane Lubischer, the associate department head for biological sciences and a Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions course instructor, reflected on the stress familiar to the entire higher education community at the time. 

“To me the most important aspect of the Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions origin story is perhaps the ‘why,’” she said. “Why did so many people come together to put so much time and effort into creating [the program] while dealing with all of their other work and all of the stresses of the pandemic?

“Compassion. 

“We were worried about students finishing high school and about to start college during a traumatic time. We wanted to create a virtual hug to help them know that they were part of our community, even from a physical distance.”

In true Think and Do fashion, NC State turned a pressing challenge into an opportunity for learning. Faculty and staff from across disciplines came together to design an immersive virtual experience that tackled the problem affecting everyone: a global pandemic.

More than 25 faculty and staff members developed course content exploring the history, biology and societal impact of pandemics like that of COVID-19. Students participated in more than 30 expert-led conversations and learned from members of the Wolfpack community whose work made a difference during the crisis. These experts included:

• Joshua Pierce, Howard J. Schaeffer Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, discussed his research that led to the commercialization of life-saving antibiotics.
• Paul Lunn, then-dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, presented research on infectious diseases in horses.
• Cat Warren, professor emerita of English, emphasized the role of science journalism as a critical resource during a global health crisis.
• Shevaun Neupert, professor of psychology, shared her research on how well-being can be optimized in times of stress.

To maximize engagement, EMAS made the course free for all incoming first-year students and offered two general education credits — a move that helped drive 20% of the incoming class to complete the program in its inaugural year.

A Wicked Success

The success of Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions wasn’t a one-time event; it was the beginning of something much bigger. Inspired by the overwhelming response, the task force returned in 2021 with a new theme: Global Change. This iteration took students on a journey through the evolution of ancient cities, modern urbanization, climate change, conservation and more. 

Since then, Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions has cemented itself as a mainstay in NC State’s first-year experience. Each year, the course has explored new themes. In 2022, The Future of Food took a deep dive into food systems, sustainability and agricultural innovation. In 2023, (Y)Our Health gave students a comprehensive look at personal and public health challenges. 

This program really opened the doors of curiosity for me and helped me find a path to grow and excel here at NC State.

Now, five years in, Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions has not only helped thousands of students transition into college — it has also become a model for virtual student engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Matthew Menon, a second-year student studying statistics and environmental science, credited Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions with inspiring him to change his previous college plans and attend NC State.

“After I completed Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions, I applied for and was awarded a spot in the Wolfpack Solutions Tiered Mentoring Program, sponsored by the Genetics and Genomics Academy and the Global One Health Academy, where I joined an interdisciplinary research ‘family’ with other undergraduate students,” Menon recalled. “This program really opened the doors of curiosity for me and helped me find a path to grow and excel here at NC State. The real-world project and mentoring experience allowed me to further delve into the possibilities of what a double major in statistics and environmental science could look like.”

Rob Dunn, senior vice provost for University Interdisciplinary Programs at NC State, commended students like Menon for their interest and willingness to engage in a new and different way. “NC State students like to solve problems that transcend departments,” Dunn said. “They are ready to better the world. This course helps students to jump-start that work, exposing them from the very beginning of their careers at NC State to the radical innovation that is possible once one sees a problem or an opportunity from multiple perspectives.”

A Nationally Recognized Model for Online Learning

The course’s innovative approach soon caught the attention of both university leadership and national organizations. Last year, instructors Jason Flores, Jane Lubischer and Melissa Ramirez from the Department of Biological Sciences were co-awarded the Gertrude Cox Award for Innovative Excellence in Teaching and Learning with Technology from NC State’s Office for Faculty Excellence. Then, earlier this year, the Online Learning Consortium (OLC), a leading organization dedicated to advancing digital education, took notice.

For a decade, OLC has hosted OLC Innovate, a premier conference that brings together educators and digital learning leaders from across the country to explore cutting-edge strategies in online instruction. Each year, the event culminates with the OLC Awards for Excellence, recognizing institutions that demonstrate outstanding innovation in digital learning. This year, NC State joins the ranks of award winners as Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions brings home the 2025 OLC Award of Excellence in Digital Learning Innovation. The team accepted the honor at OLC Innovate 2025, held April 1-3.

What’s Next?

With five years of success and a national award under its belt, Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions isn’t slowing down. The team is already planning future iterations of the course, exploring new topics, expanding campus partnerships and enhancing the online learning experience with emerging technologies.

“Over the last five years, we have created five versions of the course, each topic having a look at a different interdisciplinary global issue,” said Jason Flores, associate teaching professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. “We are constantly on the lookout for relevant and emerging issues to investigate through the ‘Wicked’ lens, especially those with close ties to NC State. We sincerely hope to continue offering and expanding those experiences as well as helping faculty create affiliated courses in their respective disciplines that connect back to [the program].”

The next Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions offering will be available for the next class of incoming students starting June 23, 2025. This year’s theme, titled “(Y)Our Changing World,” will delve into the interconnections of human health through topics including environmental change and technological advances in health and wellness. For more information about Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions and to get involved, visit the program’s website at wolfpacksolutions.ncsu.edu.