ABSTRACT
Of the southern states, North Carolina has been a relatively consistent example of progressive change in higher education. This chapter describes some of the critical developments in the North Carolina system of higher education, the trends, policies and outcomes, and policy developments. The University of North Carolina system was one of systems that complied early after the federal government provided guidance for the desegregation of public systems of higher education. In 1981, the Department of Community Colleges was moved out of the state board of education and established as a separate entity; in 1999, the name was changed to the North Carolina Community College System. North Carolina is an SAT state when it comes to college admission applications at selective colleges and universities. The chapter examines trends in outcomes related to academic preparation, access and diversity, and degree completion. It considers how these trends compare and contrast with changes in policy and funding.
