The UNC Tomorrow Commission report recommended that UNC should "become more directly engaged with and connected to the people of North Carolina, its regions and our state as a whole."
The University has a long history of working directly with the people of the state, with statewide organizations like the UNC School of Government, which helps teach government leaders to work more effectively and efficiently, as well as the Cooperative Extension Service, the Industrial Extension Service, and the Small Business and Technology Development Center, which help advise businesses and community organizations on how to work more effectively. Smaller university-based centers throughout the state have addressed regional needs.
But in the wake of UNC Tomorrow, UNC is taking its engagement efforts to a new level.
Across the state, campuses have launched "rapid response" efforts to help the state and its communities recover from the economic crisis, including convening of meetings and workshops, revisions to curriculum, and the placing of scores of students in government and business to assist with the recovery.
And campuses have made a long-term commitment to aggressively build their engagement efforts. Thanks to the leadership of NC State University and UNC - Chapel Hill, ten campuses of the University, more than any other university system in the nation, have been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its elective "Community Engagement" designation, in recognition of their existing efforts to reach out to their community through scholarship and volunteer efforts.
UNC Engagement and Outreach Offices
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Winston-Salem State University
At a time when many communities are suffering from poor economic conditions, UNC-Chapel Hill, Appalachian State University and UNC Pembroke are taking action to assist struggling communities in North Carolina.
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