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Continuous and flexible planning has been a major activity and concern of the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina ever since the board was created in 1972. The board adopted its first long-range plan in 1976. Since that time it has adopted ten revisions to the long-range plan.

The most extensive and significant revision of the original plan was adopted by the board in 1992. Early in 1990, the President and the Board of Governors called for a comprehensive review and reassessment of the currently assigned missions of each of the institutions within the University of North Carolina. Each institution reviewed its current academic program offerings, its research and service functions, its administrative structure, and its enrollment patterns and trends to identify areas where change was needed.

Before making his recommendations to the Board of Governors, the President asked four distinguished consultants to review the materials and give him their recommendations. The board's Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs considered the consultants' report and the President's recommendations and, in turn, submitted its report to the full board in February 1992. The board approved the report at its March meeting and instructed the President to prepare a revised long-range plan for the University of North Carolina for the period 1992-93 through 1996-97. Long-Range Planning, 1992-97 was adopted by the Board of Governors in November 1992.

Long-Range Planning, 1994-99

, a revision of the 1992 document, was adopted in 1994. The schedule for future planning called for a revised plan to be adopted in 1995 in order to return to the normal cycle of revising the University's plan in odd-numbered years, a cycle that was interrupted owing to the length of time required to prepare the 1992-97 plan. However, the large number of special studies mandated by the 1995 session of the General Assembly preempted preparation of a 1995 revision. Instead a "supplement" to the 1994-99 plan, Supplement to Long-Range Planning, 1994-99, was adopted to address changes that could not be postponed until the preparation of the next scheduled plan, the 1998-2003 long-range plan.

A. Preparation of the Plan

This five-year plan, covering the period 2000-2005, revises and updates the 1998-2003 plan. Guidelines for the participation of the constituent institutions in the preparation of this plan were sent to the chancellors in January 1999. The Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs began its consideration of the various components of the plan in May, when it received a report on the accomplishment of the strategic directions adopted in Long-Range Planning, 1998-2003. In the months that followed, the committee considered and acted upon the other sections of this plan, which was formally adopted by the Board of Governors in January, 2000.

B. The Scope and Content of the Plan

Section II of this plan contains a brief survey of the current context for higher education in North Carolina. Section III looks toward the future environment for higher education, identifying major change drivers and speculating on their implications for higher education.

Section IV contains the five interrelated strategic directions that the Board of Governors will pursue in the fulfillment of the University's mission during this planning period. Section V summarizes the UNC enrollment plan adopted by the board to ensure continued access to higher education during the coming decade.

Section VI sets forth a statement of overall mission for the University of North Carolina and notes the constitutional and statutory mandates which help to shape that mission.

Section VII presents the general academic missions for the constituent institutions, including for each of them: a general statement of its educational mission; its descriptive classification; a summary of currently authorized degree programs; all new programs authorized for planning in the period 2000-2005; and an organizational chart showing primarily the academic structure of the institution. It also addresses the role of centers and institutes in the academic missions of UNC institutions. Section VIII outlines the schedule for future planning.

The strategic directions and the programmatic thrusts contained in this plan constitute an ambitious agenda. Nevertheless, they reflect a deep commitment to respond to genuine needs and to contribute to the development and well being of the state and its citizens. If the University is to fulfill its proper role, the chancellors, the President, and the Board of Governors must plan for the future with the confidence and hope that the citizens of North Carolina will continue their strong support for higher education.

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