The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill plans to create a new academic school consolidating the School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and the School of Data Science and Society to strengthen the university’s role in applied technology, information, and data science teaching and research.
In a letter to the UNC community, campus leaders framed the move as a response to rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and growing statewide demand for data-driven skills.
University leaders Chancellor Lee H. Roberts and Interim Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost James W. Dean Jr. wrote that the new school is intended to “amplify the impact of research and scholarship” and help Carolina “adapt and grow in the rapidly changing world of AI.”
The yet-to-be-named school will be led initially by Stanley Ahalt, current dean of the School of Data Science and Society, who will serve as the inaugural dean.
Jeffrey Bardzell, dean of the School of Information and Library Science, will take on a new role as chief AI officer and vice provost for AI while continuing to serve as SILS dean during the transition.
The university said academic programs in both schools will continue and that the merger aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and expand enrollment and impact.
The announcement emphasized that the decision to create the school has been made, while implementation details will be developed with input from faculty, staff, and students.
Operational planning will be guided by the university’s Operational Excellence team, with a task force, advisory committee, and multiple working groups addressing academic structure, staffing, and student services.
No program changes are expected before the end of the current academic year, and spring 2026 graduation ceremonies for the two existing schools will remain separate.
Notably, the letter emphasizes that the move is not driven by budget cuts and that accredited programs are not expected to change.
“We want to emphasize” three points, the university wrote: campus engagement throughout planning, continuity of academic programs, and a focus on growth and opportunity.
Leaders also pointed community members to a dedicated FAQ page that will be updated as work progresses.
