From Staff Reports 

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — UNC Asheville officially launched its new School of Business in October, according to a UNCA announcement on Oct. 15. 

The new school merges the university’s existing Department of Business and Department of Economics & Finance into a unified academic structure designed to expand career opportunities and address regional workforce shortages.

Key features of — and the proposed timeline for — the UNCA School of Business are as follows:

• New majors (proposed fall 2027): Pending approval from UNC System leadership, students will be able to major in finance, marketing, and business analytics. This expands on existing bachelor of science degrees in business, accounting, and economics.

• Active certificates: Two programs — digital and social media marketing, and business intelligence and analytics — are currently available. Future credentials are being developed for health care management, outdoor enterprise, risk management, and certified financial planning.

• Hands-on requirements: Every enrolled student will participate in practical experiential learning, such as an internship, a local business practicum, or an undergraduate research project.

• Upgraded infrastructure and support: A new policy lab is scheduled to open in January, the current artificial intelligence lab is receiving upgrades, and a dedicated career coach will be added to support student placement.

Regarding its strategic context, the launch serves two main purposes for the university and the surrounding region as follows:

• Workforce alignment: The program aims to bridge regional employment gaps. The UNC System’s 2026 Workforce Alignment Report recently highlighted annual shortfalls of roughly 500 finance and 1,000 accounting graduates, relative to open positions in North Carolina.

• Institutional recalibration: UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort noted that introducing the school is part of a broader strategy to combat declining enrollment and fiscal challenges, which were exacerbated by recruitment disruptions from Tropical Storm Helene.

UNCA also announced that it expects to hire an executive director to head the new School of Business by the spring 2027 semester. 

Additional details are available directly through the UNC Asheville School of Business Portal by visiting online at https://oneport.unca.edu.