Following the introduction earlier this year of a number of new initiatives to support the armed forces, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announces plans to expand the UNC CORE general education program to include an undergraduate general education certificate. Targeted to launch in the Fall 2016 semester, the certificate is the first of its kind in North Carolina.
The UNC CORE program accelerates the degree path for United States armed forces, veterans and National Guard and Reserve members by providing access to online general education core courses that can be taken from a distance on a flexible schedule. With the addition of the UNC CORE Certificate, service members will have the opportunity to complete an interdisciplinary general education foundation of courses that will prepare them for entry into University of North Carolina system online degree completion programs or other degree programs.
“The UNC CORE certificate marks another milestone in Carolina’s commitment to serve the military community,” said Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “Once we recognized the need and made the decision to create this certificate, we moved quickly and decisively to create a rigorous academic program that will significantly benefit the men and women of our armed forces.”
The certificate is also designed to align with the existing curriculum for the North Carolina Community College Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC), which meets system-wide, lower-division general education requirements.
“UNC CORE is significant to the entire UNC system,” said Steven Long, chairman of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors Special Committee on Military Affairs. “Few institutions offer general education credits in a flexible distance education format. UNC CORE will offer active duty service members the opportunity to earn not just college credits, but a credential—a certificate—from an institution known for quality and value. This is an attractive educational entry point that can lead to a degree at a North Carolina community college or UNC institution.”
Carolina’s William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education, which serves as the administrative home for UNC CORE, will work with University faculty to expand the number of courses in the program, especially in the Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) disciplines. The Friday Center will also provide academic advising services to UNC CORE students.
Special advisors with military education training will guide UNC CORE students through completion of their general education certificates and work with them to design personalized courses of study best suited to their degree completion plans. UNC Core certificate students will complete the program having earned 27 to 28 credit hours.
The program aligns with the Friday Center’s mission to serve the entire state of North Carolina with more proactive, customized and inclusive academic programs.
Published December 10, 2015.