Our Mission
In 1971, the Higher Education Reorganization Act placed the 16 baccalaureate-granting institutions that make up the University of North Carolina under one governing board. The Act emphasized basic objectives for the University: to foster the development of a well-planned and coordinated system of higher education, to improve the quality of education, to extend educational benefits beyond campus borders and to encourage economic and effective use of the state’s resources.
In its efforts to move forward with strategic planning, the University recognized the importance of establishing an overall mission, and defining the role each campus would play in fulfilling the mission. In 1992, the Board of Governors adopted a general mission statement, and after some modification, the official statement was given statutory status in 1995.
Mission Statement
The University of North Carolina is a public, multi-campus university dedicated to the service of North Carolina and its people. It encompasses the 17 diverse constituent institutions and other educational, research, and public service organizations. Each shares in the overall mission of the University. That mission is to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge to address the needs of individuals and society. This mission is accomplished through instruction, which communicates the knowledge and values and imparts the skills necessary for individuals to lead responsible, productive, and personally satisfying lives; through research, scholarship, and creative activities, which advance knowledge and enhance the educational process; and through public service, which contributes to the solution of societal problems and enriches the quality of life in the State. In the fulfillment of this mission, the University shall seek an efficient use of available resources to ensure the highest quality in its service to the citizens of the State.
Teaching and learning constitute the primary service that the University renders to society. Teaching, or instruction, is the primary responsibility of each of the constituent institutions. The relative importance of research and public service, which enhance teaching and learning, varies among the constituent institutions, depending on their overall missions.