Overview & Brief History of the UNC Faculty Assembly

The UNC Faculty Assembly is the elected body of representatives of the faculty of the seventeen constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. The Assembly is dedicated to upholding and exercising the principles of academic freedom, shared governance, tenure, and the faculty's primary responsibility for the University's curriculum.

The Assembly’s objectives are set forth in the Assembly Charter.
Its Standards of Shared Governance were adopted in April 2005.
For a concise description of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina (and its major affiliates), see “Section 4: Synopsis of Universities and Major Affiliated Entities” of Chancellor Anne Ponder’s “UNC Presidential Search Leadership Statement Committee” (April 26, 2010).

A Brief History of the Faculty Assembly

In 1972, when all sixteen public senior institutions were placed under one Board of Governors, President Friday called for the creation of a Faculty Assembly. There had been a Faculty Advisory Council within the old six-campus consolidated University of North Carolina, and the new assembly was to be its enlarged successor.

By October 1972, all sixteen constituent institutions had ratified the Assembly Charter. The first meeting of the delegates was held on December 2, 1972. John Sanders, then Vice President for Planning, presided as interim chair.

A second meeting was held on January 6, 1973, to begin discussions of a set of bylaws for the Assembly. Henry C. Cooke, from North Carolina State University, was then elected chair pro tem.

A special [third] meeting was held on January 27, 1973 (presided over by Professor Cooke), for the purpose of debating and proposing revisions to Chapter VI of The Code: Academic Freedom and Tenure.

At its fourth meeting, held on February 23, 1973, the Assembly adopted its Bylaws and elected Professor Cooke to serve as chair until July 1, 1974.

The following faculty members have served as Assembly chairs:

1973-1974	Henry C. Cooke	NCSU
1974-1976	Henry C. Ferrell	ECU
1976-1977	Vincent M. Foote	NCSU
1977-1979 (Jan.)¹	Roy Carroll	ASU
Feb. - June 1979	Helen M. Caldwell	ECSU
1979-1981	Shirley C. Browning	UNCA
1981-1984	Alan J. Hauser	ASU
1984-1986	James LeRoy Smith	ECU
1986-1987 (May)²	Betty Jo Welch	UNCW
1987-1988	Meada Gibb	NCA&T
1988-1990	Fred Hinson	WCU
1990-1991	Kathleen Kowal	UNCW
1991-1993	Ken Wilson	ECU
1993-1995	William Kane	WCU
1995-1997	Peter Petschauer	ASU
1997-1999	Laura Gasaway	UNC-CH
1999-2001	Keith Howell	UNCG
2001-2003	Richard Veit	UNCW
2003-2005	Jeff Passe	UNCC
2005-2008	Brenda Killingsworth	ECU
2008-2010	Judith Wegner	UNC-CH
2010-2012	Sandie Gravet	ASU
2012	Catherine Rigsby	ECU

Roy Carroll's term ended when he was appointed Vice President for Planning at UNC General Administration.
Betty Jo Welch died in office.

2012 UNC Strategic Planning Process

FINAL - UNC Strategic Plan

NEW and REVISED Draft Strategic Plan (January 16, 2013)

Faculty's Response to the Draft UNC Strategic Plan (January 19, 2013)

ASG Response to Strategic Plan Draft

Faculty Comments on the Draft of the 2013-2018 UNC Strategic Plan

Statements of Faculty Position Support

NC-AAUP President David Ayers

Staff Assembly Chair Chuck Brink

Faculty Forum Summaries

North Carolina A&T State University
UNC Strategic Directions Initiative Faculty Forum
November 15, 2012

Summary of ideas that came out of the Oct. 23rd forum at UNC-CH – sponsored by a coalition of faculty, students, and staff and attended by 140 people.

UNCG Faculty Forum on Strategic Directions Initiative
November 14th, 2012 (Wednesday)