The History of UNC (continued from page one)

Nevertheless, grim times lay ahead. The University struggled to stay alive during the Civil War, Union military occupation and Reconstruction. In 1869, only one degree was conferred and in January, 1871, faculty salaries were cancelled and only two students were in attendance. From then until 1875 the University was closed, its campus a deserted wasteland and its faculty scattered. It took several decades of slow revival to restore lost ground. Although a state institution in name, it did not received direct state appropriations until 1881, and it was not until 1905 that the first campus building was erected with state funds.

The prosperity of the 1920s allowed the University to develop into a regional and national leader in higher education. In 1922, it was elected the 25th member of the prestigious Association of American Universities in recognition of its distinction in graduate study and research.

The Depression that followed limited state support but brought in federal funds to build many new facilities. During World War II, the campus served as a training ground for military personnel. After the war, the University experienced another period of major growth as the federal GI Bill brought many returning veterans back to college. During the 1960s, student numbers grew from 8,500 to 18,000 and rose to 25,000 in 2000. Programs of distinction in both the humanities and sciences multiplied.

The Consolidation Act of 1931 joined UNC with the state universities in Raleigh and Greensboro under a single administration with a common President. It was expanded in 1971 and now includes 16 campuses with headquarters in Chapel Hill. The largest organization is designated as the University of North Carolina, while the Chapel Hill campus has been re-designated the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH).

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