Centers and Institutes

The UNC System is home to over 200 centers and institutes. These strengthen and enrich UNC System programs that support the core missions of research, service, and instruction. They enhance faculty, staff, and student opportunities and heighten economic impact in the state. In addition, they reduce duplication within UNC System.

Many of these units transcend the boundaries of academic departments, bringing experts from across disciplines together to address complex issues. For this reason, UNC System centers and institutes play an important role supporting the UNC System’s partnerships with government and industry.  

UNC Regulation 400.5[R] provides guidance to campuses on the establishment, management, and discontinuation of institutional centers and institutes, as well as those that involve more than one constituent institution.

A current listing of the UNC System centers and institutes can be found below:

2023 UNC System Centers & Institutes List

In 2015, the Board of Governors completed a comprehensive review of all UNC System Centers and Institutes. The report can be found below:

Centers and Institutes Report and Recommendations