Welcome to
UNC System Office!

The University of North Carolina is composed of 17 campuses that extend from the state’s mountains to the coast. The system consists of 16 universities, the North Carolina School of Science and Math, and the UNC System Office. Our system currently enrolls nearly 225,000 students and graduates more than 30,000 students each year. Institutions in the UNC System include:

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Elizabeth City University
• Fayetteville State University
• North Carolina A&T State University
• North Carolina Central 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
• UNC Health
• Project Kitty Hawk

Learn more about the UNC System.

For 136 years, the only campus of the University of North Carolina was at Chapel Hill. Chartered in 1789 by the North Carolina General Assembly, UNC-Chapel Hill was the first public university in the United States. By 1877, the General Assembly had begun sponsoring additional institutions of higher education, broadening access for all North Carolinians. Five universities were historically black institutions, and another was founded to serve American Indians. Some opened as high schools. Several were teaching colleges or women’s colleges. Others emphasized technology or agriculture. One was established as a school for performing artists.

In 1971, the Higher Education Reorganization Act placed the 16 baccalaureate-granting institutions that make up the University of North Carolina under one governing board. The Act emphasized basic objectives for the University: to foster the development of a well-planned and coordinated system of higher education, to improve the quality of education, to extend educational benefits beyond campus borders, and to encourage economic and effective use of the state’s resources.

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.

Learn more about the history of the UNC System.

• The UNC System is led by President Peter Hans, who began his tenure on Aug. 1, 2020. Previously, President Hans was 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
  • Michael Vollmer, Chief Operating Officer
  • David English, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
  • Bart Goodson, Senior Vice President for Government Affairs
  • Jennifer Haygood, Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer
  • Andrew Tripp, Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
  • Shun Robertson, Interim Senior Vice President for Strategy and Policy

As a System Office employee, you are also an employee of the State of North Carolina.

Employees who are subject to N.C.G.S. 126 (the North Carolina Human Resources Act) are called “SHRA” employees (“Subject” to the Human Resources Act). This includes many but not all staff positions. Policies for SHRA employees are under the authority of the State Human Resources Commission and are administered by the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR). The UNC System Office exercises delegated authority for many SHRA policies as they apply to University employees and the UNC System constituent institutions. SHRA employees may be either exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (paid on a salaried basis) or non-exempt from FLSA provisions (paid on an hourly basis).

Employees who are exempt from most provisions of N.C.G.S. 126 are called “EHRA” employees (“Exempt” from the HR Act). This includes University faculty and EHRA non-faculty staff and administrators. Policies for EHRA employees are under the authority of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors and are administered by the UNC System Office. All Board policies are available in the UNC Policy Manual.

System Office employees use a variety of technology to accomplish their daily tasks. System Office staff typically have two separate online IDs: the System Office ID to log in to System Office local networks, software, and applications (such as our internal portal, called MyApps); and an Onyen ID (see First Things First / System ID) to log in to ConnectCarolina, TIM, and other systems that the System Office shares with UNC-Chapel Hill.

For more information on System Office technology, please visit System Office Systems and Technology Resources.

Schedule: EHRA employees are paid monthly on the last business day of each calendar month. SHRA employees are paid bi-weekly. The current payroll calendars are available here.

Direct deposit: Direct deposit is the required payment method for all University employees and must be set up electronically through ConnectCarolina. Within your first week of employment, you must upload your bank account information in order for your check to be directly deposited. Instructions for setting up direct deposit are available here.

Taxes: Prior to your first paycheck, you must complete the W-4 and NC-4 tax documents through the ConnectCarolina Self Service home page. We recommend completing these forms at the same time you input your direct deposit information. You also should periodically check and/or update your W-4 and NC-4 following any life changes such as marriage, having children, and moving. Detailed instructions are available here.

Our main System Office location is in The Dillon in downtown Raleigh’s Warehouse District. The office features modern hoteling and collaboration spaces for staff to use when on site, and parking is free for staff. We are excited to provide our team these opportunities for flexibility and staff well-being.

Most System Office staff work onsite at least three days per week. Based on specific circumstances, some staff can work a hybrid schedule with one or two days each week in the office, or even a fully remote schedule. Please review the Flexible Work Arrangements policy, discuss with your supervisor, and complete the Flexible Work Arrangements agreement.

The street address for System Office is 223 S. West Street, Raleigh. The UNC System Office is located on the 17th and 18th floors of The Dillon.

We are committed to offering a variety of learning experiences designed to help develop your personal potential, while effectively meeting the demands of your job and furthering the goals of the UNC System Office. System Office staff have access to a variety of learning and professional development opportunities, which are free and available to all. These include educational benefits and tuition waiver opportunities, as well as our online learning management system, known as Talent@System Office.

All System Office staff are required to have an annual performance plan and evaluation. Your plan should be completed and shared with you within the first 60 days of your work here. Annual evaluations are conducted in the spring. For more information, see the Performance Management page on the System Office HR website.

Our Time Information Management system, known as TIM, is used by all System Office employees to track leave taken. Some employees also use TIM to track hours worked to ensure that employee pay is calculated correctly. There is a unique set of TIM features and procedures for each employee type. The TIM manuals explain the TIM features and procedures specific to SHRA and EHRA employees.

The System Office staff directory is available online.

UNC System Office has the ability to communicate with System Office staff via the UNC System Emergency Notification System. Messages will typically be posted on the UNC System website and can also be sent to your cell phone and email. Register to receive text notifications as part of updating your personal information in ConnectCarolina. (See First Things First / Personal and Contact Information.)

UNC System Office public safety and emergency management is overseen by the Safety and Emergency Risk Management team. Each division and many departments have an identified floor monitor to assist with safety questions and concerns. Ask your manager about your designated floor monitor.

In an emergency, dial 911. To report an incident other than dialing 911, click here.

If your concern is an immediate threat to health or safety, dial 9-1-1 as your first call before contacting any administrative office. 9-1-1 should always be contacted immediately in the event of an in-progress or imminent threat. Do not hesitate to make that call as a first step.

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.