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The University of North Carolina at Asheville was founded in 1927 as Buncombe County Junior College for area residents interested in pursuing their educations beyond high school. The school underwent several name changes, merges with local governments and school systems, and moves across Asheville, and in 1957 Asheville-Biltmore College, as it was then called, became the first two-year institution in North Carolina to qualify as a state-supported community college.
The college relocated in 1961 to its present site, 265 scenic acres one mile north of downtown Asheville. Two years later it became a state-supported senior college under a new board of trustees, and in 1966 awarded its first baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts disciplines. In 1969 Asheville-Biltmore College joined The Consolidated University of North Carolina as the University of North Carolina at Asheville, with the distinct mission to offer an undergraduate liberal arts education of superior quality. In 1972, the Consolidated University added 10 other state-supported senior institutions to form the current 16-campus University of North Carolina system. Today, UNC Asheville is the only designated liberal arts university in The University of North Carolina system and one of only six public universities in the country classified as national liberal arts universities (Liberal Arts I).
UNC Asheville’s reputation as a high-quality public liberal arts university extends beyond the state. UNC Asheville has received national recognition for its integrative approach to the liberal arts, specifically its Undergraduate Research and Humanities programs. The noteworthy combination of innovative academic programs, interdisciplinary study and low cost draws praise from the national college guidebooks annually. The popular
Fiske Guide to Colleges ranks UNCA among its top 20 Best Buys in public higher
education, saying, "The University of North Carolina at Asheville offers all the perks that are generally associated with pricier private institutions: rigorous academics, small classes and a beautiful setting. And it does it for a fraction of the cost. All the ingredients for a superior college experience lie in wait at Asheville: strong academics, dedicated professors and an administration that continues to push for
excellence." The Princeton Review: the Best 311
Colleges, lists UNCA in this select
group, saying, “For students who seek a public education in a smaller campus environment, this is a great choice.” And
U.S.
News & World Report's
annual college rankings places UNCA fourth in the nation among public liberal arts colleges.
The current campus comprises about 30 buildings for classrooms, administration, residence and recreation, with a new Master Plan in place for expansion over 20 years. The newest buildings on the scenic mountain campus are two residence halls, South Ridge and West Ridge; a state-of-the-art Health and Fitness Center, which adjoins Justice Athletic Center; and the Dining Hall. UNCA’s location one mile north of downtown Asheville (population 75,000) is convenient to the city’s amenities of shopping, restaurants, art and crafts galleries, and nightlife, and it is minutes from some of the country’s most spectacular mountain scenery and outdoor activities in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains.
Under the leadership of
Anne Ponder, who took office October 1, 2005, UNCA is charting a new course toward building the premier public liberal arts university in the country, with emphasis on academic excellence, community partnerships and service learning.
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