History
of The University of North Carolina
The
University of North Carolina comprises all the public institutions of higher
education in North Carolina that confer degrees at the baccalaureate level or
higher. The University was authorized by the State Constitution in 1776, and it
was chartered in 1789 by the General Assembly.
The
University of North Carolina opened its doors to students at Chapel Hill in
1795. Thereafter, beginning in the latter part of the 19th Century,
the General Assembly of North Carolina has established and supported 15 other
public sector institutions in keeping with Article IX, Section 8, of the
Constitution of North Carolina which provides that the "General Assembly
shall maintain a public system of higher education, comprising The University of
North Carolina and such other institutions of higher education as the General
Assembly may deem wise."
By
1969, The University of North Carolina included six constituent institutions,
overseen by a single governing board. This multi-campus University has its
beginnings in legislation enacted by 1931 that defined The University of North
Carolina to include The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North
Carolina State University at Raleigh, and The University of North Carolina at
Greensboro. In the 1960's, three additional campuses were added: The University
of North Carolina at Charlotte, The University of North Carolina at Asheville,
and The University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Then,
in 1971, the general assembly redefined The University of North Carolina, and
under the terms of that legislation all 16 public senior institutions became
constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina.
The
chief executive officer of The University is the president who reports to the
board of governors.