UNC, the nation's first public university, turns 230

Posted Feb 13, 2025
The University of North Carolina opened its doors for students Jan. 15, 1795 as the first public university in the nation. When the school first opened, many buildings were not finished being constructed and no students were enrolled until weeks later, when Hinton James arrived on campus. Today, the school has more than 20,000 undergraduate students. (Spectrum News 1)

Related: Campus Connections

Fleet Feet CEO and UNC alum knows how to ring the 'money bell'
Fleet Feet CEO and president Joey Pointer ’00, ’01 (MAC) keeps a handheld bell on his desk as a reminder of just how far both...
Fri Jul 17, 2026

Former UNC Basketball Players Mourn Changes in Chapel Hill: 'It's Not Franklin Street Anymore'
Gone are beloved Chapel Hill staples like The Rathskeller, Schoolkids Records, Bub O'Malley's, Pepper's, Spanky's, and others that served generations of UNC students along Franklin...
Thu Jul 16, 2026

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Openings, Closings and Moves in April-June 2026
After the sign for the former military surplus store Surplus Sids was taken in March, it unceremoniously reappeared on June 10 — leaned up against...
Wed Jul 15, 2026

UNC Alumni Contribute $30.1 Billion to State’s Economy
In every corner of North Carolina, Tar Heels are leaving a large financial footprint. Alumni contributed a minimum of $30.1 billion in economic activity across...
Tue Jul 14, 2026