Higher education in North Carolina is big business as schools vie for the best and the brightest staff and students. But in 2024, we learned how fragile higher education can be with budget deficits, leadership turnover, war, and politics. Today we take you on a higher ed encore of voices and stories Due South brought you in 2024 – and a glance at what to expect in 2025. 

Leoneda Inge chats with WUNC's higher education reporter Brianna Atkinson about some of the biggest news stories on campus and beyond - from the pro-Palestinian protests at UNC-Chapel Hill to the impact of Helene on campuses across the state. 

2024 saw a major jump in freshmen enrollment at historically Black institutions across the state. We revisit some of the voices from our series 'HBCU 101' including from North Carolina Central University, St. Augustine's University, and Shaw University. 

Finally, a look at the top college sports stories in North Carolina – a little bit of baseball, soccer and a lot of basketball - with WUNC digital producer and sports reporter Mitchell Northam. 

Guests

Brianna Atkinson, Higher Education Reporter at WUNC

Mitchell Northam, Digital News Producer and sports reporter at WUNC

And featuring previous interviews with... 

Michael Bailey, Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Transfer Services at North Carolina Central University.

Ariana White, 2023-24 Student Body President at St. Augustine’s University

Paulette Dillard, President of Shaw University