University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the first public university and the eleventh oldest institution of higher education in the United States. It is commonly referred to as “Carolina” or simply “UNC.” The Carolina is one of the prominent institutions in the University of North Carolina System. The history of the University of North Carolina dates back more than 200 years. William R Davie, better known as the father of the university, took initial steps to organize a university. It was chartered in 1789 by the North Carolina General Assembly. Its foundation year coincides with the beginning of the French Revolution. In 1793, the first building at UNC, a two-story brick structure called “Old East,” was put in near an Anglican chapel. This building, a national historic landmark, is one of the oldest state university buildings in the country. The second building was Person Hall, begun in 1796 and long used as the chapel. The construction of main campus began in 1798. In 1963, the University of North Carolina was renamed the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Through its curricular and extracurricular programs, the UNC became the only public university to award degrees to students in the 18th Century. The Carolina’s campus spans over an area of 729 acres with more than 250 permanent buildings, temporary structures, trailers, and leased property. It enrolls about 25,000 students from almost over the U.S. and foreign countries. More than 2,200 faculty members serve the university. The academic offerings span more than 100 fields, including bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, and professional degrees in dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and law. These programs are delivered through its 12 colleges and schools and 21 departments. The university also stands out for its sports and cultural activities. It is home to a spectrum of recreational facilities, which include a museum, an arboretum, a planetarium, botanical garden, two theaters, 22 libraries, 400 other recognized clubs, and 48 Greek organizations. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has been recognized for its educational research programs. It is named as one of the best colleges and the top research universities in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. It is also accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.