UNC School of Civic Life and Leadership under independent review

UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Civic Life and Leadership, or SCiLL, is under review.

In a statement, UNC’s Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Paul Newton wrote, “Early this summer, Jed Atkins, Dean of the School of Civic Life and Leadership, asked the university to conduct a thorough process and policy review. The university agreed that an independent review by outside counsel was necessary, and the investigation is ongoing.”

Newton and UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts discussed the review in the Sept. 5 faculty council meeting, responding to a faculty question about the school.

“There is a review underway by the general counsel's office,” Roberts said in the meeting. “The School of Civic Life and Leadership was a strategic priority when I got here, a priority of the General Assembly, of the Board of Governors, of the Board of Trustees; it continues to be a priority. And I've said that consistently we want to make it successful.”

Roberts told the assembled group the university plans to work to fulfill the original mission and vision of the school.

Newton also spoke to the faculty, saying “turbulence” is expected.

“We're going to try to cut through the noise. We're going to do a thorough look, and we're going to we're going to be guided by the facts,” Newton said on Sept. 5. “We are not ignoring it. We are addressing it, and we have high hopes that once this is completed, we'll be on our way and we'll have something you'll be very proud of.”

UNC Media Relations also provided a statement from SCiLL's Atkins about the review: “Our faculty and I are grateful that the university agreed to undertake a careful review of all relevant matters.” 

He did not say why he requested the review in the first place.

SCiLL has been mired in controversy since its inception.

In January of 2023, the Board of Trustees voted to accelerate the creation of the school. 

In an interview with Fox News, David Boliek, then chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the school was about allowing “the freedom of expression and ideas and exchange of ideas."

Critics argued the creation of the school was an overreach by the trustees and an effort to introduce more conservatism to what’s viewed as left-leaning academia.

In February of 2023, UNC-CH faculty signed a resolution pushing back on the creation of the school.

The school launched in the fall of 2023, and Atkins was selected as dean in March of 2024.

SCiLL began offering classes and a minor in fall of 2024.

On Sept. 2, UNC Professor David Decosimo posted on X saying he had been fired from his role as associate dean. 

Decosimo is still listed on the SCiLL faculty page, but not on the leadership page.

Asked about Decosimo's claim, a spokesperson for UNC Media Relations wrote, "Under the North Carolina State Human Resources Act, the University of North Carolina does not comment on personnel matters."