Vision and Need
In 2006, Chancellor Moeser expressed a vision that Carolina North be developed as “a place of amazing discovery and innovation, and a new model of sustainable community.” He additionally asked that participants in the planning process visualize Carolina North as a proud and integral part of the community.
Carolina North will be first and foremost a campus conceived to meet the academic mission and ideals of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As a flagship public research university charged with helping to lead a transformation in the state’s economy, the University must compete with national peers for the talent and resources that drive innovation. Today, that competition demands a new kind of setting — one that enables public-private partnerships, public engagement, and flexible new spaces for research and education.
Rapid changes in education, research, and engagement mean that the University must pursue new opportunities in new ways. Carolina North will provide an ideal setting for collaborative research that advances new knowledge and attracts the talented researchers and students who enrich the intellectual life of the University and the community.
The University’s recently adopted curriculum places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, under-graduate research, and entrepreneurship. To accommodate expected increases in enrollment and research activity, the University will develop clusters of closely related activities at Carolina North, making room on main campus for additional students, faculty members, and staff. Carolina North will offer a meaningful research experience to students and will provide a setting where entrepreneurial endeavors can carry innovations into the marketplace.
The University has embraced the imperative that its teaching and research programs are connected to the economic well-being of the region and of the state. Carolina North will support the creation of new research-based businesses by providing facilities, shared resources, support services, a collaborative environment, and opportunities to partner with existing businesses.
The interaction between the University and the private sector is a growing source of research funding, collaboration, and partnerships. With the development of Carolina North, the University will be able to attract new funding sources, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs for North Carolina by providing a setting to encourage the public-private partnerships that spur innovation and economic growth.
The University developed an initial program for a first phase of growth at Carolina North. This program was based on current knowledge but recognized the inevitable need for flexibility in long-term institutional program and capital planning. The University program will evolve along with the mission-based needs of the institution.
