In its efforts to move forward with strategic planning, the University recognized the importance of establishing an overall mission, and defining the role each campus would play in fulfilling the mission.  In 1992, the Board of Governors adopted a general mission statement, and after some modification, the official statement was given statutory status in 1995.

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Elizabeth City University
• Fayetteville State University
• North Carolina A&T University
• North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
• North Carolina State University
• UNC Asheville
• UNC-Chapel Hill
• UNC Charlotte
• UNC Greensboro
• UNC Pembroke
• UNC Wilmington
• UNC School of the Arts
• Western Carolina University
• Winston-Salem State University

The UNC System also has a number of affiliate organizations, including:

• The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA)
• The North Carolina Arboretum
• UNC Press
• PBS North Carolina
• WUNC
• UNC Health

• The UNC System is led by President Peter Hans, who began his tenure on Aug. 1, 2020. President Hans was most recently the president of the NC Community College System. 
• The UNC Board of Governors is the policy-making body charged with “the general determination, control, supervision, management, and governance” of the University of North Carolina. Its members are appointed by the NC General Assembly for four-year terms. Former board chairs may continue to serve for limited periods as non-voting members emeriti. The president of the UNC Association of Student Governments or that president’s designee is also a non-voting member.
• The UNC System Office houses the offices of the President and other senior administrative officers of the multi-campus University of North Carolina System. This core administrative staff is responsible for executing the policies of the UNC Board of Governors and providing University-wide leadership in the areas of academic affairs, business and financial management, long-range planning, student affairs, research, legal affairs, and government relations. The senior leadership team at the System Office includes:
  • Norma Houston, Chief of Staff
  • Jonathan Pruitt, Chief Operating Officer
  • Matthew Brody, Senior Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer
  • Bart Goodson, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs
  • Jennifer Haygood, Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
  • Andrew Kelly, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Policy
  • Andrew Tripp, Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
  • Kimberly van Noort, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer

UNC System Office also has several affiliate operations in the area. PBS North Carolina is located in Research Triangle Park, with the NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) housed next door. The NC Arboretum is located in Asheville, NC.

• New hires receive an email from UNC System Office Human Resources providing information about the required documents necessary to begin employment. This documentation must be completed in the first three days of employment. Generally, new hires will meet with the HR Payroll & Leave Coordinator on the first day of employment to complete this documentation and receive an overview of the payroll and timekeeping systems.
• You can download and complete these forms in advance of your first day of employment. You also will need to provide proper identification for your I-9 employment eligibility form and a canceled check for your direct deposit form.
  • I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification
  • I-9 Instructions
  • W-4 Tax Withholding Form
  • NC-4 State Tax Withholding Form
  • Direct Deposit Payroll Authorization
  • Employee Separation Form
  • Offboarding Checklist
• The HR Benefits Consultant will also meet with new hires to review the University’s benefits programs. These meetings can be scheduled on different days, depending on the employee’s availability, but since certain benefits decisions must be made within the first 30 calendar days of employment, it is important for new hires to review their benefits documents soon after starting. To learn more about the University’s benefits, watch our benefits orientation video.
• A policy orientation session is held once a month for new employees, covering employment types, equal opportunity and conflicts of interest, and performance management, among other topics. This session is generally 90 minutes to two hours. New employees will receive an email invitation to the next policy orientation session following their arrival.
• New employees must complete two online training modules during their first 30 days, on prohibited harassment/discrimination and information technology security. New hires will receive emails explaining how to access this training.

• The Code and the UNC Policy Manual
• Human Resources policies
• Financial Policy Manual
• Finance policies
• Information Technology policies

These links, as well as forms and other policy information specifically for System Office staff, are also available on the System Office Policies, Procedures and Forms page.

• EHRA employees are paid monthly, generally on the last weekday of the month.

• SHRA employees are paid every other Friday. Please note that SHRA employees are paid two weeks in arrears, so employees do not receive their first pay check until the third or fourth Friday after they begin employment with the System Office as an SHRA employee.
• All employees track time worked (FLSA non-exempt employees) or leave taken (FLSA exempt employees) through the TIM System in our online system, ConnectCarolina, under the Self-Service Tab. Access TIM Training Modules.

• Permanent UNC System Office employees are granted 12 paid holidays a year.

• Permanent employees also accrue 8 hours of sick leave each month (pro-rated for part-time employees)

• Vacation leave accrues monthly at different rates depending on employee classification type:

• • EHRA SAAO TIER I Employees: 26 days/year
  • EHRA SAAO TIER II Employees: 24 days/year
  • EHRA Instructional, Research, and Information Technology Professionals: 24 days/year
  • SHRA Employees: Accrual is based on years of service with the state of North Carolina:
  • • 0-4 years of service: 14 days/year
    • 5-9 years of service: 17 days/year
    • 10-14 years of service: 20 days/year
    • 15-19 years of service: 23 days/year
    • 20+ years of service: 26 days/year

• Vacation leave (up to 240 hours) is paid out at the time of separation, as is all eligible bonus leave (periodically provided by the NC General Assembly to active employees) and remaining compensatory time off (overtime) or other eligible paid time off.

• Sick leave is not paid out upon separation, but it is retained on record for five years and will be restored if the employee returns to permanent State employment or credited toward their TSERS retirement service calculation if the employee retires within five years of their separation date.

• Permanent employees are also eligible for other types of leave benefits.

The University of North Carolina System is committed to institutional integrity and compliance. The System Office has designated offices, employees and resources to help ensure that these commitments are fulfilled and to respond to complaints and concerns.