UNC Chancellor Carol Folt sent an open letter on Monday sharing the university’s progress on their race and equity initiatives.

The university announced a list of programs to improve “equity and inclusion” on campus after a town hall meeting in the fall when student protest movements articulated their demands.

Folt said that university leaders will participate in training about racial bias and institutional racism. She also promised to have plans in February for a dedicated space for black students. Student protests have called for a black student union.

Folt wrote that counseling and mental health services will be reevaluated to provide more equal access for all students.

In the letter, Folt mentioned the Task-Force on UNC- Chapel Hill History and their work to create the Carolina Hall Exhibit, which “will explore race in the history of the University.” The task-force was created in response to calls to rename Saunders Hall, which was named for William L. Saunders, a former North Carolina Secretary of State but also a local leader of the Ku Klux Khan. The Board of Trustees renamed the building Carolina Hall last summer.

The letter highlighted efforts to encourage degree completion and student success through the Thrive@Carolina initiative. The university is also working on a website to serve as the main page for the university’s efforts on race, equity and inclusion.

These initiatives are seen partially as a response student protest on campus including a rally in the fall in support of the protest movement that began at the University of Missouri. The university then held a town hall style meeting where many of the student demands were announced.

Related Stories
‹
Pro-Palestine Activists Hold Event Marking Anniversary of UNC Encampment, Clash with Police
On April 29, 2024, hundreds of UNC community members and protesters sat on the Chapel Hill campus’ Polk Place, entering their 72nd consecutive hour on the quad in protest of Israel’s military action in Gaza and the university’s administration’s unwillingness to take a stand as well. One day later, the scenes were much more charged […]
Hundreds Gather for 'Hands Off!' Protest of Trump Administration, Federal Cuts in Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill saw hundreds of people take part in a "Hands Off!" protest as part of national demonstrations against the Trump administration.
Protesters in Cities Across the US Rally Against Trump’s Policies, Project 2025 and Elon Musk
Demonstrators gathered in cities across the U.S. on Wednesday to protest the Trump administration’s early actions.
'How Do We Normalize This Work?': New Segment on DEI Airs on 97.9 The Hill
The Hill launched a weekly segment called "Conversations We Need To Have" featuring different voices and local leaders in the DEI space.
LOOK: Scenes from the UNC Gaza Solidarity Encampment, Subsequent Rallies
An encampment protest at UNC asking the university to cut ties with those who support Israel in the ongoing Gaza war saw a turbulent 24 hours — as the group attempted to maintain its position on campus before police arrested participants and swept the site. Led by the organization UNC Students for Justice in Palestine, […]
Why Tens of Thousands of Indian Farmers Are Marching Toward the Capital in Protest
Written by KRUTIKA PATHI Tens of thousands of Indian farmers are marching toward the capital to demand guaranteed crop prices, renewing a movement from two years ago that succeeded in getting the government to repeal contentious new agricultural laws. On Tuesday, police used tear gas, detained a number of farmers and heavily barricaded border points to block the […]
As More Women Forgo the Hijab, Iran’s Government Pushes Back
Written by NASSER KARIMI and JON GAMBRELL Billboards across Iran’s capital proclaim that women should wear their mandatory headscarves to honor their mothers. But perhaps for the first time since the chaotic days following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, more women — both young and old — choose not to do so. Such open defiance comes […]
PHOTOS: UNC Young Democrats Rally Against Mike Pence Appearance
In response to former U.S. President Mike Pence speaking at a College Republicans event on campus, several UNC students gathered in The Pit on Wednesday in protest. The UNC Young Democrats coordinated the event to be just before Pence’s speech inside the Carolina Student Union, partnering with more than a dozen student and local groups. […]
Pence Preaches Conservative Values at UNC; Democratic Students Hold Opposition Rally
Former U.S. vice president Mike Pence spoke on UNC campus Wednesday evening, drawing a protest outdoors as he promoted conservative policies.
UNC Law Students Walk Out of Class in Protest Over Reported Ban of Peer
Since UNC law student Jamie Marsicano was among those detained following protests and vandalism at an Atlanta public safety facility last month, their peers claim the university has not allowed them to come back to class. Friends of Marsicano’s organized a protest last Thursday against that decision, advocating for UNC to allow her to return […]
›