On Dec. 11, 1789, the University of North Carolina (UNC) was founded. The UNC was the first public university in the U.S. and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century.

The School of Law was established in 1845. Other graduate programs began in 1876, followed by a summer school for teachers in 1877 and a medical program in 1897. Over the next century, leaders broadened the mission of the University to include research and public service.

In 1931, the General Assembly redefined UNC to include three state-supported institutions: The campus at Chapel Hill (now the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), North Carolina State College (now North Carolina State University at Raleigh), and Woman’s College (now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro). In 1972, it created the UNC system, joining 16 state colleges and universities under a president and board of governors.

Today, UNC’s nationally recognized teaching, groundbreaking research and dedication to public service continue a legacy that began when the University was chartered.