The School of Information and Library Science will begin offering a five-year bachelor’s and master’s degree program for all students in the school with at least one year left.

Sue Estroff always said that it didn’t cost money to dream. In public comments supporting her work writing the University’s new Academic Plan last year, Estroff’s line almost became a catch phrase.

As the implementation committee for the University’s Academic Plan enters its third month of slow progress, a pending meeting with the provost and a recently hired administrative assistant could help push the plan into high gear.

With an eye on quick and noticeable policy changes, the committee charged with developing the University’s latest academic plan has begun to chart out its opening projects.

As the group formed to implement the University’s new academic plan works to find its operational rhythm, members of the committee could bring sweeping changes to academic policy across departments.

As a freshman in 2006, David Bevevino didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do with his life. But he knew he had an itch for higher education.

After 18 months of planning, writing and revision, the University’s new academic plan is preparing to enter the final stage of its life — its implementation.

A meeting meant to draw feedback on a draft of the University’s new academic plan from undergraduate student leaders evolved into a more nuanced discussion on academic culture and policy Thursday evening.

As the New Year dawns, University officials will be preparing to present the final version of their resolutions for the next decade of UNC’s development.

The Arts Innovation Steering Committee is still looking for its focus. In its second meeting last Friday in the Student Union, Student Body President Hogan Medlin’s collection of University officials in artistic and academic policy offered few concrete goals. But the committee, which Medlin hopes will form the backbone of his eventual legacy at UNC, continues to foster big dreams.

The University’s academic options in the next 10 years could include a fast-track bachelor’s to master’s degree program, guaranteed enrollment in first-year seminars and an expanded honors program — but the details are still largely on the drawing board.

As the University prepares to release the first public draft of its new academic plan, steering committee members say they are concerned about the image the plan will project to the people of North Carolina.

The road map for the next 10 years of growth at the University is coming — eventually. For more than a year, University officials from all sectors of campus have been drafting a new academic plan, the second of its kind.

 After the first few steps of formulation, UNC’s new academic plan looks likely to focus on globalization and public engagement.

Those are the directions members of the plan’s steering committee said they are looking in. They just don’t know how to get there yet.

When UNC administrators write a new academic plan this year, they will determine the University’s priorities and how millions of dollars will be allocated during the next few years — money that might not be as abundant as it was during the last decade.

In the past six years, almost every aspect of UNC life has been influenced by a single 44-page document.

The 2003 academic plan, UNC’s comprehensive road map for more than five years of budgetary and higher education evolution, set the tone and climate of the campus.

The University affairs committee of the Board of Trustees met with administrators Wednesday to discuss the formulation of the University’s new academic plan and how budget cuts have impacted teaching.

Advising the academic plan

Student Body President J.J. Raynor has proposed a more personalized approach to advising.

The Academic Plan Task Force met Monday to review what was intended to be a final draft of UNC's academic plan.

But the task force decided not to submit the draft to the University community in early November, which was the projected deadline.

A broad plan outlining the academic future of the University is being developed by a task force created by UNC administrators.

The Academic Plan Task Force, composed of 24 faculty members, administrators, staff members and students, will draft a concise report by next fall that will guide budget decisions and allocation of resources to academic uses during the next five years.