7 things you may have missed this summer
Catch up on Carolina’s new openings, rankings and more as the semester begins.
Summer may be a quieter time around Chapel Hill, but there’s still plenty happening at Carolina.
As the fall semester begins, catch up on some campus news you may have missed from the past few months.
1. Rising up
Carolina ranked as the No. 3 best value public university in the nation in The Princeton Review’s list of Best Value Colleges for 2025, up one spot from last year. Along with the honor for return on investment, the University was also the top public school for financial aid and No. 2 for best value without aid among publics.
2. Dining changes
First Draft Deli has opened in the Carolina Union in the former Alpine Bagel space. The newspaper-themed shop offers sandwiches, coffee, salads and more.
Carolina Dining Services has also transitioned to a cashless payment system. The change is designed to reduce transaction times and improve service.
3. Tailgate time
Carolina will host the Chapel Thrill Game Day experience before the Tar Heels’ six home football games this season, offering fans a chance to listen to live music at a pregame concert, cheer on the team as they walk to Kenan Stadium and tailgate with friends on Polk Place. Chase Rice will headline the first concert at 6 p.m. Sept. 1 before the season opener against TCU.
The new features add to the excitement around the debut of head coach and eight-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick.
Meet a new Tar Heel
As the school year gets underway, meet some of the new faces starting their journeys in Chapel Hill.
4. Campus in the spotlight
Tar Heels may have noticed some familiar sights in the latest season of the Prime Video show “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
The series, based on books by Jenny Han ’02, filmed parts of the third season in Chapel Hill. Read a Q&A with Han and see scenes from the show, then sign up for the new UNC Visitors Center Tour about the filming.
5. Continued recovery efforts
Chancellor Lee H. Roberts visited western North Carolina in July to meet with leaders and residents to discuss how the University can keep supporting the region as it recovers from Hurricane Helene. Since the storm hit, Carolina has provided aid in disaster recovery, economic development and regional health care.
Roberts plans to visit different parts of the state each summer moving forward. Read more about this year’s tour.
6. Financial planning
In July, Roberts, interim Provost Jim Dean and Nate Knuffman, vice chancellor for finance and operations, announced steps the University is taking to identify operational savings of $70 million.
More information and frequently asked questions are available on the financial planning and budget questions webpage. Details of a Chancellor’s Forum series will be announced soon. To submit questions, email budgetquestions@unc.edu.
7. Celebrating local art
You may have noticed some new artwork around campus as the semester began.
The Uproar Festival of Public Art returned Aug. 1 and ran through Aug. 22. The festival, which highlights outdoor artwork, sported 60 pieces of art around Orange County, including five on Carolina’s campus.
