The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill opened its doors for students on Jan. 15, 1795 as the first public university in the nation. “You would see North Carolina legislature do two things right at the end of 1789. The first thing they did was they ratified the federal constitution.

On a cold and muddy winter morning 230 years ago, the University officially opened its doors, though it didn’t have many doors to open. On Jan. 15, 1795, in a sparsely attended ceremony, Gov. Richard Dobbs Spaight and presiding professor the Rev. David Kerr inspected the recently completed two-story brick building that was The University of North Carolina.

Carolina experts are paying attention to these trends in 2025. What big-picture issues and topics should we be monitoring this year? Fifteen Carolina faculty members tapped into their areas of expertise and shared insights on what they’re paying attention to in 2025.

Central to Carolina’s AI efforts is its new AI Community, a hub designed to bring together students, faculty, researchers and industry partners. By uniting efforts across teaching, research and operations, this initiative ensures collaboration and accessibility at every level.

Student and Academic Services Bldg North (SASB), South. CB# 7475. 385 Manning Drive, Suite 1310 Chapel Hill, NC 27599. V: 919-962-9355 T: 711 [email protected]