The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNC Pembroke or UNCP) is a public university in Pembroke, North Carolina, United States. UNC Pembroke is a master's level degree-granting university and part of the University of North Carolina system. Its history is intertwined with that of the Lumbee nation.

UNC Pembroke offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The university's athletics teams, the Braves, compete in NCAA Division II athletics as members of Conference Carolinas.

History

The educational institution that developed into UNC Pembroke originates in the circumstances of the post-Civil War South. This school was a part of the effort of the Lumbee Nation in North Carolina to preserve their unique identity. Access and authority over their educational system were essential to retaining Lumbee culture, instilling a sense of pride, and improving the group's economic and social conditions.

"Croatan Normal School" was created by the General Assembly on March 7, 1887, in response to a local petition sponsored by North Carolina Representative Hamilton McMillan of Robeson County. This event occurred in the context of competition for support between the Democratic and Republican parties in North Carolina. Hamilton MacMillan's support for the school was connected to his interest and research on Native American history and culture. The school's initial name, Croatan Normal School, was selected following the debatable view that this tribe included descendants of the Outer Banks Lost Colony of Sir Walter Raleigh.

thumb|left|Croatan Normal School in [[Pates, North Carolina|Pates 1909]]

The normal school opened in the spring of 1888 with one teacher and 15 students to train American Indian public school teachers. Initially, enrollment was limited to the American Indians of Robeson County. In this period, school enrollment was often quite limited among the general population. Funding by the state was patchy at best, and there was a high level of illiteracy. Forming a centralized training school for teachers was thought to be the best method of addressing this problem in the given circumstances.

In 1909, the school moved to its present location, about a mile east of the original site. The name was changed in 1911 to the "Indian Normal School of Robeson County", and again in 1913 to the "Cherokee Indian Normal School of Robeson County", tracking the legislature's designation for the Indians of the county, who at one time claimed Cherokee descent. In 1926, the school became a two-year post-secondary normal school; until then, it had provided only primary and secondary instruction. The dining hall and a fast-food outlet are located in the UC.

The UC lawn, an open grass area in front of the UC, is where students play amateur sports, read on benches, or use the area for free speech. The eastern side of campus includes the Livermore Library, Oxendine Science Building, Old Main, and Wellons Hall, among other buildings. The campus on the west side has the Business Administration Building, Education Center, and the residence hall communities such as Oak Hall, Pine Hall, North, and Belk. Lumbee Hall, the Dial Humanities building, the Sampson building, the Auxiliary building, the Jones Athletic Center, and the Givens Performing Arts Center make up most of the north end of campus.

The campus is home to Givens Performing Arts Center, a regional center for culture, arts, and entertainment. GPAC hosts numerous Broadway shows, orchestras, shows geared towards children, and also hosts the "Distinguished Speaker Series," in cooperation with the Association of Campus Entertainment, which has brought in notable people such as Cory Booker, Bill Nye, Jodi Sweetin, Patch Adams, Gabby Douglas and Hill Harper, among many others.

The Museum of the Southeast American Indian

Located in Old Main at the UNC Pembroke campus is the Museum of the Southeast American Indian. Indigenous artifacts are permanently displayed, and Southeast American Indian Native cultures are honored through arts, traditions and storytelling programs and events.

Organization

UNC Pembroke is one of 17 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina System. The system is governed by the UNC Board of Governors, whose members are elected by the North Carolina General Assembly. The president of the UNC System is Peter Hans .

The Board of Trustees of UNC Pembroke has 13 members including the student body president, members elected by the UNC System Board of Governors, and appointments made by the governor. The current chancellor of UNC Pembroke is Robin Gary Cummings, who has held the position since 2015.

Leaders

thumb|Lumbee Hall, the main administration building

thumb|Givens Performing Arts Center

The title of Principal or Superintendent was used for the institution's leader prior to 1940. After 1940, when UNC Pembroke became a collegiate-level institution, the title of "president" was used. Upon becoming a member of the University of North Carolina system, the title was changed to "chancellor".

; Presidents

  • O. H. Browne (1940–1942)
  • Ralph D. Wellons (1942–1956)
  • Walter J. Gale (1956–1962)
  • English E. Jones (1962–1972)

; Chancellors

  • English E. Jones (1972–1979)
  • Paul R. Givens (1979–1989)
  • Joseph B. Oxendine (1989–1999)
  • Allen C. Meadors (1999–2009)
  • Charles R. Jenkins (2009–2010)
  • Kyle R. Carter (2010–2015)
  • Robin Gary Cummings (2015–present)

Academics

right|thumb|The Alicia and Whitney Jones bridge leading to the Mary Livermore Library

thumb|Faculty Row - Library on the right

right|thumb|Lowry Bell Tower from the Water Feature

UNCP offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral pathways delivered in on-campus, online, and hybrid formats. The university is organized into the:

  • College of Arts & Sciences
  • College of Optometric Medicine
  • School of Education
  • Thomas College of Business & Economics
  • Esther G. Maynor Honors College
  • William Howard Dean Graduate Schooll
  • University College

Rankings

The 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report ranks the university #45 in Regional Universities South and #19 in Top Public Schools. It was also ranked #16 in Best Colleges for Veterans and #10 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.

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Athletics

right|thumb|English E. Jones Athletic Center

UNC Pembroke's athletic teams are known as the Braves. Due to its heritage as an institution founded by American Indians for the education of American Indians and the continued support from the Lumbee tribe, the school has largely been immune to the ongoing controversies related to American Indian-themed nicknames and mascots.

The school is a member of the NCAA's Division II and competes in Conference Carolinas and the Mountain East Conference. The school fields varsity sports teams for women and men.

Greek life and student organizations

UNCP, as well as the Office of Greek Life and the Campus Engagement & Leadership office, offers a variety of extracurricular activities for students. From academic-based and service organizations to minority organizations and Greek life, UNCP offers more than 120 student organizations.

Media

While the Netflix show The Chair is situated in a Pembroke University, it is a fictional Ivy League University and not the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

Notable alumni

  • Brad Allen, NFL official
  • Derek Brunson, three-time NCAA Division II All-American wrestler at UNCP; UFC fighter
  • Ben Callahan, MLB pitcher
  • Domenique Davis, NFL defensive tackle
  • Sascha Görres, German footballer who currently plays for Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division
  • Charles Graham, member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
  • Jerry P. Lanier, former U.S. Ambassador to Sudan and a career diplomat with the U.S. Department of State
  • Jarrod Lowery, member of the North Carolina House of Representatives
  • Sally McRorie, educator, psychologist and painter
  • Pardon Ndhlovu, marathon runner from Zimbabwe, competed at the 2016 Summer Olympics
  • Julian Pierce, civil rights activist
  • Freda Porter, applied mathematician and environmental scientist known as one of the first Native American women to earn a PhD in the mathematical sciences
  • Ruth Revels, American Indian activist and educator
  • River Ryan, MLB pitcher
  • Kelvin Sampson, head basketball coach for the Houston Cougars, former NBA assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks, former Washington State, University of Oklahoma, and Indiana University head coach

Notes

References

  • UNCP Athletics website