University of North Carolina at Asheville

The University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNC Asheville, UNCA, or simply Asheville) is a public liberal arts university in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. UNC Asheville is the designated liberal arts institution in the University of North Carolina system.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is a member and the headquarters of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

UNC Asheville was founded in 1927 as Buncombe County Junior College, part of the Buncombe County public school system.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> It was the first tuition-free public college in North Carolina.<ref name=":0" /> It was located in the Biltmore School in south Asheville on Hendersonville Road (U.S. 25). In 2001, Biltmore School was recognized by the Save America's Treasures program.

During the Great Depression, the college started charging tuition.<ref name=":0" /> In 1930 the school merged with the College of the City of Asheville (founded in 1928) to form Biltmore Junior College.<ref name=":0" /> In 1934 the college was renamed Biltmore College.<ref name=":0" /> In 1936, the name changed to Asheville-Biltmore College, and control was transferred to the Asheville City Schools.<ref name=":0" />

File:Overlook Castle in 1920.jpg

Overlook in 1920

In 1949, the college relocated to the 20,000-square foot Overlook Castle, also known as Seely's Caste, which included 29 acres on the crest of Sunset Mountain.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Evelyn Grove Seely, widow of Fred Loring Seely, sold Overlook to the college $125,000; she also donated $50,000 to the acquisition fund.<ref name=":1" /> The college renamed the house Seely Hall, as requested by the seller.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The house, no longer part of the college, was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.<ref name="nrhpinv">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":1" />

In 1961, Asheville-Biltmore College moved to the present UNC Asheville campus in north Asheville.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite news</ref> That year, the college desegregated with the enrollment of Etta Mae Whitner Patterson.<ref>Judson, Sarah. “‘I Am a Nasty Branch Kid’: Women’s Memories of Place in the Era of Asheville’s Urban Renewal.” The North Carolina Historical Review, vol. 91, no. 3, 2014, pp. 323–50. JSTOR, Accessed 24 Dec. 2022.</ref> In 1963 it became a state-supported four-year college, and awarded its first bachelor's degrees in 1966.<ref name=":8" /> Its first residence halls were built in 1967. It adopted its current name in 1969 upon becoming part of the Consolidated University of North Carolina, since 1972 called the University of North Carolina System.<ref name=":8" />

UNC Asheville desegregated its faculty in 1981, along with all schools in the University of North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is one of three baccalaureate colleges within the University of North Carolina System, and has been classified as a Liberal Arts I institution since 1992.<ref name=":8" />

Administration

The university operates under the guidance and policies of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Asheville.<ref name=":7">Template:Cite web</ref> Members of the board are appointed by the governor of North Carolina.<ref name=":7" /> As part of the seventeen-campus University of North Carolina System, UNC Asheville also falls under the administration of the system's president, Peter Hans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The UNC System is administered by the UNC Board of Governors, which is elected by the North Carolina Legislature, and advised by the UNC Faculty Assembly.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Kimberly van Noort, former interim provost and interim chancellor of UNC Asheville, became the university's chancellor on January 1, 2024.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":14">Template:Cite web</ref>

Chief executive officers

President or dean

• 1927–1932: S.B. Conley, Dean<ref name=":8">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 1932–1936: A.C. Reynolds, President<ref name=":8" />
• 1936–1941: Charles A. Lloyd, Dean<ref name=":8" />
• 1945–1946: William H. Morgan, Dean<ref name=":8" />
• 1946–1947: Clarence N. Gilbert, Dean<ref name=":8" />
• 1947–1947: R.A. Tomberlin, President<ref name=":8" />
• 1947–1962: Glenn L. Bushey, President<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":8" />
• 1962–1969: William E. Highsmith, President<ref name=":8" />

Chancellor

• 1969–1977: William E. Highsmith<ref name=":8" />
• 1977–1977: Arnold K. King, acting<ref name=":8" />
• 1977–1984: William E. Highsmith<ref name=":8" />
• 1984–1990: David G. Brown<ref name=":8" />
• 1990–1991: Roy Carroll, interim<ref name=":8" />
• 1991–1993: Samuel Schuman<ref name=":8" />
• 1994–1994: Larry Wilson, interim<ref name=":8" />
• 1994–1999: Patsy Reed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":8" />
• 1999–2005: James H. Mullen, Jr.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2005–2014: Anne Ponder<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2014–2015: Doug Orr, interim<ref name=":2" />
• 2015–2017: Mary K. Grant<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":2" />
• 2017–2018: Joseph Urgo, interim<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2018–2022: Nancy J. Cable<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
• 2022–2024: Kimberly van Noort, interim<ref name=":3" />
• 2024: Kimberly van Noort<ref name=":14" />

Campus

The campus includes 365 acres in a small city setting.<ref name=":9">Template:Cite web</ref> Noteworthy campus features include:

• Bob Moog Electric Music Studio, named for Robert Moog, former professor and inventor of the Moog synthesizer.<ref name=":9" />
• Botanical Gardens at Asheville is adjacent to campus and features 600 plant species on ten acres with walking trails.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":13">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Carol Belk Theatre seats 200 people and is used for Theatre UNCA and other performances.<ref name=":13" />
• Kimmel Arena, with seating for 3,200 people, is used for basketball and concerts.<ref name=":13" />
• Lookout Observatory for astronomical research is open to the public for stargazing and includes a collection of images from the universe.<ref name=":10">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":9" />
• N.C. Center for Health & Wellness, including biofeedback lab and meditation space<ref name=":9" />
• Wilma Dykeman Writers-in-Residence home<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":9" />
• S. Tucker Cooke Gallery is used for student and faculty art exhibits.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Earthworks from the Civil War Battle of Asheville are preserved on campus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Academics

Curriculum

UNC Asheville operates on a semester calendar.<ref name=":9" /> It offers four-year undergraduate programs leading to Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees in 36 majors, and is classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a Baccalaureate College–Arts & Sciences (Bac/A&S).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The University's most popular majors include biology, business, English language and literature, environmental studies, psychology.<ref name=":9" /> It also offers joint degrees with North Carolina State University, including a 2-2 B.S. in engineering, a 3-1 B.S. in engineering, and a joint B.S. in engineering in mechatronics concentration.<ref name=":9" />

All students complete a capstone or culminating academic experience.<ref name=":9" /> UNC Asheville founded the National Conference on Undergraduate Research and has hosted the event five times.<ref name=":10" /> Some sixty percent of student complete undergraduate research or creative project.<ref name=":9" /> Around 20% of students participate in study abroad or study away.<ref name=":6" /> More than 48 of its graduates have received Fulbright Fellowships.<ref name=":10" />

Located on campus, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute has some 220 faculty and offer more than 350 classes each year.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":13" />

Faculty

UNC Asheville had 222 full-time faculty members the fall of 2022, with 87% holding terminal degrees in their field.<ref name=":6" /> Another 99 faculty serve part-time.<ref name=Faculty>Template:Cite web</ref> Faculty teach all classes; there are no teaching assistants.<ref name=":10" /> Nearly 60% of the classes have less than 20 students.<ref name=":9" /> As of 2022, the student-faculty ratio was 14:1.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":11">Template:Cite web</ref>

Admissions

UNC Asheville's acceptance rate for the fall of 2021 was 82%.<ref name=":9" /> At that time, total enrollment was 3,233, with 57% female students and 43% male students.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":11" /> As of fall 2020, students came from 43 states and seventeen countries; 12% of the current study body was from outside of North Carolina.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":11" /> The student demographics were 73.57% White, 8.84% Hispanic, 5.11% Black, 1.68% Asian, and 5.08% unknown.<ref name=":11" /> 87% of the enrollees were full-time students.<ref name=":11" />

There are deadlines for admissions, and either a ACT or SAT is required.<ref name=":9" /> In the 2020-2021 academic year, 35% of students received a Pell Grant.<ref name=":9" />

File:Bieb.jpg

D. Hiden Ramsey Library

Library

D. Hiden Ramsey Library is located in the center of campus.<ref name=":12">Template:Cite web</ref> It includes the Media Design Lab and the crAFT (Creativity, Art, Fabrication, and Technology) Studio.<ref name=":12" /> The library's holdings include Special Collections and University Archives which started in 1977 as the Southern Highlands Research Center and focuses on the history Asheville and Western North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Annually, the library gives the Ramsey Library Community Author Award; the winner receives a yearlong residency in the library.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Rankings and reputation

In 2025, UNC Asheville's ranking in U.S. News & World Report was tied for 9th in Top Public Liberal Arts Schools and tied for 132nd in National Liberal Arts Colleges. UNC Asheville also ranked tied for 150th in Best Undergraduate Engineering Program for institutions that do not offer a doctorate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Princeton Review ranked UNC Asheville as number six for Green Matters, number nine for LGBTQ-Friendly, number 25 for Best Quality of Life, number 22 for Most Politically Active Students, and number 15 for its College City.<ref name=":11" />

The 2022 edition of The Fiske Guide named UNC Asheville a best-buy; the list only includes ten public and ten private universities from across the United States.<ref name=":11" /> In 2019, Forbes magazine ranked UNC Asheville number 494 in Top Colleges, number 176 in Public Colleges, and number 165 in Liberal Arts Universities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Washington Monthly ranked UNC Asheville number 76 on its 2022 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: Southeast and number 77 for its national Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Student life

Organizations and activities

There are more than sixty campus clubs and organizations.<ref name=":6" /> Student activities include Greek organizations, with 2% of males belonging to a fraternity and 1% of females belonging to the one sorority.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":11" /> Some 44% of students participate in a service learning project, while 11% participate in intramural sports.<ref name=":9" />

UNC Asheville's Student Government Association (SGA) consists of two branches, an eighteen-seat Student Senate and an executive branch comprising a president, vice-president, and Cabinet. UNCA Out is a student group dedicated to students that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, asexual, queer, questioning, two-spirit, intersexed, and straight allies.<ref name=":11" />

UNC Asheville's Concerts on the Quad features weekly outdoor concerts during the summer months.<ref name=":13" /> The North Asheville Tailgate Market is open Saturdays, April through November, and features around 40 local vendors.<ref name=":13" />

Dining

UNC Asheville Dining Services are located in Brown Dining Hall.<ref name=":10" /> They serve about 265,000 meals annually, and donate to Food Connections on a weekly basis.<ref name=":10" />

Housing

In the fall of 2021, 46% of students lived on campus.<ref name=":9" /><ref name=":11" />

Athletics

Template:Main UNC Asheville's athletics teams are known as the Bulldogs. They are a member of the NCAA's Division I and compete in the Big South Conference.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=":9" /> The university's colors are blue and white. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, and both indoor and outdoor track and field.<ref name=":11" /> Women's sports include basketball, cross country, diving, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and field, and volleyball.<ref name=":11" />

Notable alumni

• Sarah Addison Allen – author
• Anne-Marie Baiynd – author and analyst in the financial field
• Timothy Lee Barnwell – photographer and author<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Molly Burch – singer-songwriter
• Tony Campana – professional baseball player<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Cliff Cash – stand-up comedian
• Wiley Cash – author
• Michael Cogdill – journalist, news anchor, novelist, screenwriter, and film producer
• Claude DeBruhl, North Carolina House of Representatives
• Ryan Dull – professional baseball player
• Wilma Dykeman – writer and environmentalist
• Jason Faunt – actor
• Kenny George – tallest player (7'7") in NCAA men's basketball history
• Joey Harrell – professional basketball player
• Keith Hornsby – professional basketball player
• Lassi Hurskainen – professional soccer player
• Todd Interdonato – college baseball coach
• Ashley Johnson – member of Puerto Rico national soccer team
• Veronica Johnson – meteorologist at WJLA-TV
• Autumn Kent – mathematician
• Kevin Mattison – professional baseball player
• Nick McDevitt – college basketball coach
• Alana McLaughlin – mixed martial artist
• Henry Patten – tennis player
• Drew Pember – professional basketball player
• Josh Pittman – professional basketball player
• J. P. Primm – basketball player
• Jaleel Roberts – professional basketball player
• Ann B. Ross – author
• Andrew Rowsey – professional basketball player
• Jalen Seegars – basketball player
• Mike Shildt – professional baseball manager
• Topper Shutt – meteorologist
• Bryan Smithson – professional basketball player
• Stemage (Grant Henry) – guitarist and composer
• Dwayne Sutton – professional basketball player
• Patrick Tate – former professional soccer player
• Roy A. Taylor – member of U.S. Congress<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• MaCio Teague – professional basketball player
• Jethro Waters – filmmaker<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ty Wigginton – professional baseball player
• Susana Žigante – professional soccer player

Notable faculty and staff

Academics

• Wiley Cash – author and writer in residence
• Richard Chess – literature and language professor, director of the Center for Jewish Studies and the Creative Writing Program.
• Jane Fernandes – former provost and vice-chancellor
• Grant Hardy – historian
• Tommy Hayes – former faculty, author, and founder of the Great Smokies Writing Program<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• David Brendan Hopes – professor of literature
• Elliot Mazer – audio engineer and record producer
• Robert Moog – inventor of the Moog synthesizer and former research professor of music<ref name=":9" />
• Christopher Oakley – animator and professor of new media
• Ann B. Ross – literature instructor
• Sylvia Wilkinson – author and former faculty

Athletics

• Steve Adlard – former director of soccer and former professional soccer player
• Eddie Biedenbach – former men's basketball coach and professional basketball player
• Jim Bretz – former baseball coach
• Herbert Coman – former football coach
• Janet Cone – athletic director
• Michelle Demko – former women's soccer coach
• Don Doucette – former basketball coach
• Ed Farrell – former athletic director
• Scott Friedholm – baseball coach
• Jerry Green – former basketball coach
• Brenda Mock Kirkpatrick – former women's basketball head coach
• Katie Meier – former assistant women's basketball coach
• Mike Morrell – basketball coach
• Matt Myers – former baseball coach
• Ryan Odom – former assistant basketball coach
• Matt Reid – former baseball coach
• Mike Roberts – former baseball coach
• Tom Smith – former baseball coach
• Sammy Stewart – former baseball coach and former professional baseball player
• Monte Towe – former assistant basketball coach

External links

• Template:Oweb
• Athletics website