Drive Progress

Objective C1.1. Position the University as the primary engine for intellectual discovery, civic leadership and economic vitality for the Charlotte region.

• Action C1.1.1. Articulate Charlotte’s identity as a leading public urban research university whose people, expertise and partnerships drive regional progress through dedicated civic engagement and statewide service.
• Action C1.1.2. Deploy the university’s intellectual capital, professional capabilities and expertise to address community-identified challenges and improve the regional quality of life.

Objective C1.2. Align University talent with the strategic priorities of the Charlotte region and North Carolina to enhance regional and statewide resilience and civic improvement.

• Action C1.2.1. Assemble work groups to develop scalable solutions that enhance regional quality of life and economic resilience.
• Action C1.2.2. Connect Charlotte research and expertise with the changing needs of regional and state government agencies for economic and workforce growth, employment opportunities and civic improvement.

Objective C2.1. Strengthen the institutional infrastructure for high-impact, reciprocal partnerships.

• Action C2.1.1. Enhance Charlotte’s position as a key regional leader bringing together civic, social, cultural and industrial partners to address complex, community-identified social needs and challenges.
• Action C2.1.2. Streamline institutional pathways to foster reciprocal partnerships between external partners and university expertise, student talent and facility assets for community improvement.

Objective C2.2. Advance regional growth and social vitality through public- and private-sector alliances.

• Action C2.2.1. Catalyze economic development and human capital initiatives by anchoring innovation spaces, such as the North Tryon Tech Hub, through mutually beneficial industrial and civic partnerships.
• Action C2.2.2. Enhance regional social vitality by integrating university expertise, library resources and arts programming into the civic landscape through collaborative partnerships that improve community well-being and intellectual life.

Objective C3.1. Cultivate college and career readiness among PK–12 students and their schools to strengthen regional talent pipelines.

• Action C3.1.1. Inspire PK–12 students across the region and state to pursue education through meaningful engagement with Charlotte’s academic community and campus experiences.
• Action C3.1.2. Collaborate with PK–12 institutions to enhance teaching practices, broaden disciplinary expertise and develop educator skills in literacy, computational thinking and applications of artificial intelligence and its responsible use.
• Action C3.1.3. Co-create pathways with Charlotte-region educators to connect talented high school students to Charlotte’s majors and align high school curricula with Charlotte’s expectations for preparation.

Objective C3.2. Lead the region as the primary partner for workforce agility and human capital development.

• Action C3.2.1. Offer market-driven credentials and fast-response upskilling through in-person, online and tailored programs that respond to the metropolitan labor market.
• Action C3.2.2. Anchor the state-wide market in industry-aligned, non-degree and customized credentials for leadership development and emerging careers.
• Action C3.2.3. Adapt workforce training to align with population and labor-market trends, ensuring Charlotte’s professional services are responsive to local and industry needs.

Objective C4.1. Promote initiatives that enhance social cohesion, regional vitality and the preservation of shared history.

• Action C4.1.1. Expedite collaborative scholarship and engagement efforts that respond to evolving community interests and needs.
• Action C4.1.2. Expand engagement with cultural and community organizations to co-develop programs that enhance the region’s intellectual, arts, cultural and historical life.
• Action C4.1.3. Preserve regional history through archival research, library special collections and collaborations with community organizations and historical sites.

Objective C4.2. Cultivate an institutional culture of service that empowers University community members to contribute to regional vitality and prosperity.

• Action C4.2.1. Encourage faculty, staff students to contribute to their communities through volunteerism by integrating service-based professional development, non-financial incentives formal recognition, advancing a university-wide commitment to service.
• Action C4.2.2. Bridge university expertise with regional needs by encouraging faculty, staff and students to apply their specialized professional skills to the technical and strategic challenges of local nonprofit and civic organizations.

¹² North Carolina’s Urban Research University. Charlotte is North Carolina’s designated urban research university. It leverages its location in the state’s largest city to offer internationally competitive programs of research and creative activity, exemplary undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and a focused set of community engagement initiatives. UNC Charlotte maintains a particular commitment to addressing the cultural, economic, educational, environmental, health and social needs of the greater Charlotte region. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. (n.d.). North Carolina’s urban research university. https://partnerships.charlotte.edu/about-orp/ncs-urban-research-university/. The University of North Carolina System. (n.d.) Welcome to Niner Nation – Home of the Charlotte 49ers. UNC Charlotte – UNC System. The UNC Charlotte homepage provides further context:https://www.charlotte.edu/