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

An Award-Winning UNC English Professor Combines Basketball With Poetry
At the basketball courts near Cobb Residence Hall, Gabrielle Calvocoressi leads a group of students in a friendly shootaround. She’s wearing a Big Bird t-shirt...
Sat Jan 31, 2026

10 ways staff kept Carolina safe during the storm
While many of us make plans to hunker down the second we see that snowflake hit our weather apps, hundreds of employees at the University...
Fri Jan 30, 2026

The multigenerational experiences of being a Tar Heel
Some parents encourage their children to attend their alma mater, while others watch them find their own path to Chapel Hill. Either way, UNC draws...
Wed Jan 28, 2026

UNC students sled, ski and play in the snow: 'The vibe is joyous out here'
In true North Carolina snow day fashion, the streets of Chapel Hill were alive with groups of people sledding on cardboard slabs, attempting to make...
Tue Jan 27, 2026