UNC announced Thursday it will combine the School of Information and Library Science and the School of Data Science and Society into a new entity focused on information technologies such as generative AI.

“This yet-to-be-named school is a bold step forward in our commitment to preparing students for a world increasingly shaped by data, information and artificial intelligence,” the university’s release read, “Both SILS and SDSS bring distinct strengths and areas of excellence to Carolina — technical expertise, humanistic inquiry and a deep understanding of the societal implications of emerging technologies. The new school will grow and amplify the impact of research and scholarship, foster interdisciplinary collaboration and expand opportunities to respond to the challenges of our time.”

The move was originally reported on by TriangleBlogBlog, which posted on Bluesky Wednesday, October 8. The blog claimed faculty were not consulted about the merger.

Breaking: We’ve talked to multiple individuals who have confirmed that UNC-CH is merging SILS (library and information science) and SDSS (data science and society). Announcement will be tomorrow morning. Faculty were not consulted.

— Triangle Blog Blog (@triangleblogblog.bsky.social) 2025-10-08T22:57:28.187Z

In the release, UNC said an implementation plan has yet to be developed, and they will turn to faculty and students to help determine what the new school will look like.

“We are committed to shaping it with our faculty, staff and students across both schools, whose expertise and perspectives are essential to ensuring a thoughtful and successful creation,” it read. “A task force, advisory committee and working groups will be formed to address key areas and there will be opportunities for engagement and feedback throughout the process.”

The release also said both schools’ current academic programs will continue, with one aim of the new school being to support each program’s enrollment growth and impact.

Stanley Ahalt, the current dean of the SDSS, will become the inaugural dean of the new school. Jeffrey Bardzell, dean of the SILS, has accepted a secondary appointment as Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Vice Provost for AI.

“This new role, which will become full-time once the new school is running, is critical to ensuring Carolina can adapt and grow in the rapidly changing world of AI,” the release said regarding Bardzell’s new position. Both Ahalt and Bardzell will remain in their current roles until the transition is complete.

The university also posted an FAQ page to address other potential inquiries. According to the page, these changes are not expected to take place during the 2025-26 academic year, the school’s location on campus has yet to be determined, and staff payroll will not be impacted. The page did not say whether faculty pay would be impacted.

 

Featured image via Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill

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