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ACCESS Summary

Overall Score: .78

Campus History:

The University of North Carolina was chartered by the general assembly in 1789. It is the nation’s first public university. On October 12, 1793, the cornerstone was laid for the first brick building, Old East. The campus area where east-west and north-south roads crossed was named after New Hope Chapel, originating the town's name. UNC officially opened to students on January 15, 1795. Enrollment grew steadily during the early nineteenth century, when the curriculum followed a traditional system. The most prominent landmark on campus to this day is the Old Well, a rotunda inspired by the Temple of Love in the Garden of Versailles, France.

Students, Faculty, and Administration:

The UNC student body consists of 16,065 degree-seeking undergrads and a graduate enrollment of 8, 008. 82% are in-state students, and 18% are out-of-state. The student body comes from counties form the entire state, 49 states, and 100 other countries. The University is ranked number five among the best public universities in America. The student to faculty ratio is 18:1. Approximately 69% of classes have 30 students or less, and 94% of the faculty hold terminal degrees in their area of specialty. The University of North Carolina offers 71 bachelors, 110 masters, and 77 doctoral and professional degree programs.

Location, Weather and Topography:

The university is located in the town of Chapel Hill. The 729 acre colonial style campus is hilly but relatively flat as it is situated in the Piedmont region of North Carolina. The town is elevated at 512 feet above sea level. The four season climate in Chapel Hill is fair with long summers and the mild winters. The annual average high temperature is 70, and the average low is 48. The annual precipitation in this region is about 49 inches, with an annual snowfall of 7.5 inches. The coldest month is January, with a high of 49 and a low of 27. The warmest month is July, with a high of 89 and a low of 66.

Disability Services:

UNC’s Department of Disability Services is located in 05 Steele Building. Its goal it to provide equal access to higher education to disabled UNC students on an individual basis. It is committed to accommodate disabled students in order to provide accessibility to all facilities and programs on campus. Such accommodations include: Modified exams, interpreters, classroom relocation, assistive listening devices, and note taking. The staff can be contacted via email at disabilityservices@unc.edu or via telephone at (919) 962-8300.