Editing University of North Carolina (section)

=== Foundations ===
Founded in 1789, the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]] (at the time called the University of North Carolina) is one of three schools to claim the title of [[oldest public university in the United States]]. It closed from 1871 to 1875, faced with serious financial and enrollment problems during the [[Reconstruction era]]. In 1877, the state of North Carolina began sponsoring additional higher education institutions. Over time, the state added a [[Women's colleges in the United States|women's college]] (now known as the [[University of North Carolina at Greensboro]]), a [[land-grant university]] ([[North Carolina State University]]), five [[historically black colleges and universities|historically black institutions]] ([[North Carolina A&T State University]], [[North Carolina Central University]], [[Winston-Salem State University]], [[Fayetteville State University]], and [[Elizabeth City State University]]) and one to educate [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indians]] (the [[University of North Carolina at Pembroke]]). Others were created to prepare [[Normal school|teachers for public education]] and to instruct [[Art school|performing artists]].