University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the eleventh-oldest institution of higher education (and the oldest public institution) in the United States. Known to many as Carolina, or simply UNC, it is consistently ranked among the elite American Universities in academics and is considered a "Public Ivy." Carolina has developed an excellent reputation in numerous academic fields, as well as in its successful and very popular basketball program, which last won the National Championship on April 4, 2005.

History

The University of North Carolina was chartered by the North Carolina General Assembly in 1789. The year of its foundation coincides with the beginning of the French Revolution. Accordingly, Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill, which serves as the northern border of the University's campus, is named after the famous eighteenth-century Enlightenment figure Benjamin Franklin.

Related Topics:
North Carolina General Assembly - 1789 - French Revolution - Chapel Hill - Benjamin Franklin

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The university opened in a single building, which came to be called Old East, and which is still in use as a residence hall. Its cornerstone was laid October 12, 1793, near an Anglican chapel in what therefore became "Chapel Hill, North Carolina." Today, the University celebrates University Day each year on October 12. The first student, Hinton James, arrived on foot from Wilmington, February 12, 1795. He was the only student for two weeks.

Related Topics:
Old East - Residence hall - October 12 - 1793 - Anglican - Wilmington - February 12 - 1795

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UNC operated as a state university before any other in America. The University of Georgia was chartered in 1785, but did not open its doors until 1801. The College of Charleston opened in 1770, and was chartered in 1785, but was a private school until 1836, when it became a municipal college; it did not join the South Carolina state university system until 1970. The College of William and Mary was founded in 1693, but was a private institution until 1906. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, was chartered in 1766 and opened in 1771, but did not become the state university until 1956. Which of those schools should be called the oldest state university is a subject of debate; however, UNC is the only public university in the United States that awarded degrees as a public institution in the eighteenth century.

Related Topics:
University of Georgia - 1785 - 1801 - College of Charleston - 1770 - 1836 - South Carolina - 1970 - College of William and Mary - 1693 - 1906 - Rutgers - 1766 - 1771 - 1956

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In 1932 UNC became one of the three original campuses of the Consolidated University of North Carolina (since 1972 called the University of North Carolina System). In 1963 the Consolidated University was made fully coeducational. As a result, the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina was renamed the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of North Carolina itself became the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Related Topics:
1932 - 1972 - University of North Carolina System - 1963 - University of North Carolina at Greensboro

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