Table of Contents

The planning responsibility of the Board of Governors serves both a comprehensive and a specific purpose. The comprehensive purpose is found in the statutory responsibility to "plan and develop a coordinated system of higher education in North Carolina." The specific purpose is found in the further statutory responsibility to "determine the functions, educational activities and academic programs" of each institution. It is this specific responsibility for each of the institutions that is addressed in this section of the long-range plan.

For each of the constituent institutions, the section presents the general academic mission containing the following: a general statement of the educational mission of the institution; its descriptive classification; a summary of currently authorized degree programs in the institution by degree level and discipline division (see Appendix B for a complete list and Appendix C for a list of enrollment by discipline); any programs that the institution is authorized to discontinue; all new programs that the institution is authorized to plan during this planning period; reconfirmation of previous program planning authorizations; and an organizational chart showing primarily the academic structure of the institution.

A. Institutional Classification

The descriptive classification of the institutions used by the University of North Carolina is that developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 1 The Carnegie classification system includes all institutions listed in the National Center for Education Statistics' Education Directory.

It is important to recognize that this classification system does not rank institutions. It is not a hierarchy of merit, a listing of institutions from superior to inferior, or from more worthy to less worthy. It is, instead, a grouping of colleges and universities according to their shared characteristics and functions. The criteria for the groupings include: level and type of programs offered, enrollments, number of degrees awarded by level and discipline areas, the emphasis placed on research, and the annual amount of federal research support received. The listing of authorized degree programs by level and by discipline division and specialty further defines the institution in terms of program array.

To encompass all colleges and universities in the United States, the classification system established 11 categories. Seven of these categories include all of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. They are as follows:

Research Universities I

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Doctoral Universities I

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Doctoral Universities II

East Carolina University

Master's (Comprehensive) Universities and Colleges I

Appalachian State University

Fayetteville State University

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

North Carolina Central University

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Western Carolina University

Baccalaureate (Liberal Arts) Universities and Colleges I

The University of North Carolina at Asheville

Baccalaureate (Liberal Arts) Universities and Colleges II

Elizabeth City State University

Winston-Salem State University

Schools of Art, Music, and Design

The North Carolina School of the Arts

B. Academic Program Development

A necessary element in the University's planning is the definition of the educational mission of each of the constituent institutions, including the specification of degree programs each of them is authorized to offer. It is in academic program development that one gets to the heart of crucial decisions in higher education, and it is in this area that the Board of Governors has been most responsible and responsive to the public interest.

The general principles and priorities defined and pursued by the board thus far in academic program development include the following:

In keeping with these principles and priorities, the Board of Governors has defined a general academic mission for each of the UNC institutions, setting forth those continuations and alterations in institutional programs and activities that in the judgment of the board should take place over a given planning period.

Through its biennial academic program planning process the Board of Governors, between July 1972 and November 1999, has approved the establishment of 392 new academic degree programs (Appendix D) and the discontinuation of 372 academic degree programs (Appendix E).

The 1993 Session of the General Assembly passed legislation to implement a Government Performance Audit Committee's recommendations for a review of academic degree programs in the University of North Carolina. In response to that legislation, the Board of Governors initiated a comprehensive, biennial review process for all degree programs. This review process is now conducted in conjunction with the biennial revision of the University's long-range plan.

The Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs developed criteria and guidelines for the review. Applying those criteria and guidelines, 76 degree programs outside the undergraduate academic core (programs in the basic arts and sciences, education, and business and management) were identified for review in 1999. These programs were reviewed not only in terms of low enrollments and degree productivity, but also in terms of such factors as low quality, high costs, low occupational demand, or a low level of centrality to the institutional mission. Some campuses also reviewed other academic degree programs with respect to productivity, institutional priorities, and unnecessary duplication.

Following this review seven academic degree programs were discontinued. Another eight degree programs were deleted from the Academic Program Inventory as separate, stand-alone programs and consolidated or merged with other related degree programs. Taken together, the recommended discontinuations and consolidations resulted in a total reduction of 15 in the number of separate, stand-alone degree programs in the University's Academic Program Inventory.

As a result of the review associated with the preparation of this long-range plan, authorization is given for the planning of 23 new programs at the baccalaureate level, 10 at the master's level, and six at the doctoral level. In addition, 14 previous planning authorizations are reconfirmed: seven at the baccalaureate level, six at the master's level, and one at the doctoral level. It must be emphasized that the eventual establishment of these programs will be dependent upon the availability of resources.

These planning authorizations and program discontinuations are listed in the general academic mission section for the respective institutions. See Appendix F for a summary of all program development recommendations in the UNC long-range plans since the first plan (1976-81).

C. Centers and Institutes

Another means through which the diverse missions of UNC institutions are carried out is through the establishment of centers and institutes.

Such units are usually multidisciplinary, have an important educational component, and are established when long-term funding is secured to pursue unique research or public service activities. They provide faculty and staff, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, with expanded research and outreach opportunities, facilities, and support. The units have a strong positive impact on the economic development of the state by providing job opportunities, supplying technical assistance and training, fostering community development and outreach programs, and enhancing the transfer of new technologies. Centers and institutes represent one of the most effective means for UNC institutions to address certain research and public service needs that extend beyond the range or capacity of traditional academic departments or programs.

The Board of Governors has well established and effective policies and procedures regarding the planning, establishment, and evaluation of centers. Centers routinely change, are discontinued, or are created over time as University objectives and societal needs demand. For example, 14 centers were established since September 1997, while 17 others were terminated.

Board policy requires that each center submit a status report as a component of the biennial update of the UNC long-range plan. The scope of the 1999 review included the 168 centers formally established by the Board of Governors prior to July 1998. (Nine centers established since July 1998 were exempted from review.) Among the 168 centers reviewed, 116 focus their activities primarily on research, while 52 designate public service as their primary mission. As a result of this review, four centers were discontinued.

These centers spent an estimated $345.2 million during 1997-98. A total of $37.8 million, or just 11 percent of the funding, was provided by direct state appropriations. Eighty of the centers reported receiving no direct state-appropriated funds. These organizations are highly successful in attracting funding from non-state sources such as the federal government and the private sector.

See Appendix G for a listing of research and public service interinstitutional and institutional institutes and centers. More detailed information is available on-line at the following Web site: http//www4.ga.unc.edu/I&C/.

APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

Appalachian State University is a public comprehensive university, offering a wide variety of degree programs at the baccalaureate, master's, and intermediate levels as well as the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. With a distinctively residential campus and a faculty and staff characterized by high quality and broad diversity of professional skills, Appalachian takes as its mission the practice and propagation of scholarship. This is accomplished particularly through instruction, but also through the research, creative, and service activities of the university community. Appalachian is committed to excellence in its undergraduate and graduate educational programs, while continuing to serve as a center of cultural and professional activity within its state and region.

2. Program Discontinuations

Appalachian State University is authorized to discontinue the following intermediate-level degree program:

 

13	Education
13.0501		Educational Media

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

No additional new degree programs are authorized for planning at this time.

4. Authorized Degree Programs at Appalachian State University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

East Carolina University, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina, is a public doctoral university committed to meeting the educational needs of North Carolina. It offers baccalaureate, master's, specialist, and doctoral degrees in the liberal arts, sciences and professional fields, including medicine.

The university is dedicated to educational excellence, exemplary teaching, responsible stewardship of the public trust, and academic freedom. The university values the contributions of a diverse community, supports shared governance, and guarantees equality of opportunity.

East Carolina University's motto is servire, meaning to serve and it seeks to meet that obligation through the following interrelated components of its mission: education, research and creative activity, and leadership and partnerships within its region.

2. Program Discontinuations

East Carolina University is authorized to discontinue the following master's degree program track:

 

45	Social Sciences and History
45.0701		Planning (to be offered as emphasis area within Geography)

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

East Carolina University is authorized to plan the following new degree programs:

a. Baccalaureate Level

b. Master's Level

4. Authorized Degree Programs at East Carolina University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

Elizabeth City State University is a public university offering baccalaureate degree programs in the basic arts and sciences, selected professional and pre-professional areas, and the master's degree in elementary education. Through its Graduate Center, the university provides additional master's programs for advanced professional study in conjunction with other constituent institutions.

Originally an institution serving African Americans, the university's heritage provides a rich background for serving its increasingly multicultural student body. The university provides a challenging and supportive environment that prepares its students for knowledgeable, responsible participation and leadership in an ever-changing, technologically advanced global society.

Elizabeth City State University continues to promote excellence in teaching as its primary responsibility to meet the needs of the students and citizens of the state. Through its teaching, research, and community outreach, the university seeks to identify and address the needs of northeastern North Carolina with particular attention to supporting its environmentally sensitive economic development.

2. Program Discontinuations

No program discontinuations are now planned

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

No additional new degree programs are authorized for planning at this time.

4. Previous Planning Authorizations Reconfirmed

Previous authorization to plan the following new baccalaureate degree programs is reconfirmed:

5. Authorized Degree Programs at Elizabeth City State University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

Fayetteville State University is a public comprehensive university, offering degrees at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels. The primary mission of Fayetteville State University is to provide quality education to its students through a basic liberal arts foundation, specialized professional training, and specific graduate programs. Committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service to the community, the university seeks to prepare its students and graduates to lead meaningful and productive lives. In doing so, Fayetteville State University strives to produce creative thinkers and leaders who will reach beyond current intellectual and cultural boundaries to become the change agents for shaping the future of America and the world.

As part of its broader mission, the university extends its services as a regional institution by providing life-long learning experiences and opportunities to the University's immediate and extended communities and serving as a resource for business, education, and culture in North Carolina.

2. Program Discontinuations

No program discontinuations are now planned.

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

Fayetteville State University is authorized to plan the following new master's degree program:

4. Authorized Degree Programs at Fayetteville State University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

NORTH CAROLINA AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL STATE UNIVERSITY

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is a public, comprehensive, land-grant university committed to fulfilling its fundamental purposes through exemplary undergraduate and graduate instruction, scholarly and creative research, and effective public service. The university offers degree programs at the baccalaureate, master's and doctoral levels with emphasis on engineering, science, technology, literature and other academic areas. As one of North Carolina's three engineering colleges, the university offers Ph.D. programs in engineering. Basic and applied research is conducted by faculty in university centers of excellence, in interinstitutional relationships, and through significant involvement with several public and private agencies. The university also conducts major research through engineering, transportation, and its extension programs in agriculture.

2. Program Discontinuations

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is authorized to discontinue the following master's

degree program tracks:

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

North Carolina A&T State University is authorized to plan the following new baccalaureate degree programs:

 

14	Engineering
14.0901		Computer Engineering
24	Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies & Humanities
24.0101		Liberal Studies
43	Protective Services
43.0104		Criminal Justice

4. Previous Planning Authorizations reconfirmed

Previous authorization to plan the following new master's degree program is reconfirmed:

5. Authorization to Change Name of School of Agriculture

North Carolina A&T State University is authorized to make the following name change:

School of Agriculture to School of Agriculture and Environmental and Allied Sciences

6. Authorized Degree Programs at North Carolina A&T State University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL UNIVERSITY

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

North Carolina Central University is a comprehensive university offering programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is the nation's first public liberal arts institution founded for African Americans. The university maintains a strong liberal arts tradition and a commitment to academic excellence in a diverse educational and cultural environment. It seeks to encourage intellectual curiosity and to enhance the academic and professional skills of its students and faculty.

The mission of the university is to prepare students academically and professionally and to promote consciousness of social responsibility and dedication to the advancement of the general welfare of the people of North Carolina, the United States, and the world. The university will serve its traditional clientele of African American students; it will also expand its commitment to meet the educational needs of a student body that is diverse in race and other socioeconomic attributes.

Teaching is the primary focus of the university. As a part of that focus, the university encourages its faculty to pursue intellectual development and rewards effective teaching. The university recognizes, however, the mutually reinforcing impact of scholarship and service on effective teaching and learning. North Carolina Central University, therefore, encourages and expects faculty and students to engage in scholarly, creative, and service activities which benefit the community.

2. Program Discontinuations

No program discontinuations are now planned

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

North Carolina Central University is authorized to plan the following new baccalaureate level degree program:

4. Previous Planning Authorizations Reconfirmed

Previous authorization to plan the following new degree programs is reconfirmed:

a. Baccalaureate Level

b. Master's Level

5. Authorized Degree Programs at North Carolina Central University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

The North Carolina School of the Arts is a specialized institution, offering programs at the secondary and baccalaureate levels in dance, design and production, drama, filmmaking, and music, and at the master's level in design and production and music. The School is the only state institution which is dedicated entirely to the professional training of students who possess exceptional talent in the performing arts. According to the Enabling Act, the mission is distinctive:

"...The primary purpose of the School shall be the professional training, as distinguished from liberal arts instruction, of talented students in the fields of music, drama, dance, and allied performing arts, at both the high school and college levels of instruction, with emphasis placed upon performance of the arts, and not upon academic studies of the arts."

Its program in the performing arts includes general education programs offered by the Division of General Studies. The School will continue to strengthen and improve its existing programs, and will continue to place emphasis upon recruitment of North Carolina students. The School will also emphasize the further development of those community service activities that contribute to the cultural enrichment of North Carolina, principally through concerts and performances of its faculty and students. These activities form an important element in the professional training of its students.

2. Program Discontinuations

No degree program discontinuations are now planned.

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

No additional new degree programs are authorized for planning at this time.

4. Previous Planning Authorizations Reconfirmed

Previous authorization to plan the following new master's program is reconfirmed:

5. Authorized Degree Programs at North Carolina School of the Arts

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY AT RALEIGH

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

The mission of North Carolina State University is to serve its students and the people of North Carolina as a Research I, land-grant university. Through the active integration of teaching, research, and extension, North Carolina State University creates an innovative learning environment that stresses mastery of fundamentals, intellectual discipline, creativity, problem solving, and responsibility. Enhancing its historic strengths in agriculture, science, and engineering with a commitment to excellence in a comprehensive range of academic disciplines, North Carolina State University provides leadership for intellectual, cultural, social, economic, and technological development within the state, the nation, and the world.

2. Program Discontinuations

North Carolina State University is authorized to discontinue the following degree programs:

a. Baccalaureate Level

b. Master's Level

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

North Carolina State University is authorized to plan the following new degree programs:

a. Baccalaureate Level

b. Master's Level

4. Authorized Degree Programs at North Carolina State University

See Appendix B for a complete list of authorized degree programs.

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE

1. General Statement of Educational Mission

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is distinctive within the public higher education system of North Carolina in its primary mission: to offer an undergraduate liberal arts education of superior quality for serious and able students. The university also provides selected pre-professional and professional programs which are solidly grounded in the liberal arts. The university is committed to a liberating education emphasizing the central role of humane values in thought and action, the free and rigorous pursuit of truth, and a respect for differing points of view and heritage. It aims to develop men and women of broad perspective who think critically and creatively and who communicate effectively. The university maintains undergraduate programs in the arts, the humanities, and the natural and social sciences, and offers at the graduate level the Master of Liberal Arts. It promotes understanding of the connections among the traditional disciplines of the liberal arts through interdisciplinary studies, and it integrates the areas of inquiry with programs that prepare students for meaningful careers and professions. It promotes innovation in curriculum and instruction by a faculty dedicated to teaching. The University is committed to serving the community in ways that complement its educational mission. Programs for advanced professional study are also available through the Asheville Graduate Center located on campus. The university seeks to enrich cultural life, enhance the conduct of public affairs, and contribute to the advancement of the region, the state, and the nation.

2. Program Discontinuations

No degree program discontinuations are now planned.

3. Authorizations to Plan New Programs

The University of North Carolina at Asheville is authorized to plan the following new baccalaureate
degree programs: