Millennial Campus Development Advisory Committee Launches Public Engagement Process

The UNC Asheville Millennial Campus Development Advisory Committee has announced a structured public engagement process designed to gather input from community members, campus stakeholders, and regional partners as it develops recommendations regarding the future of the UNC Asheville Millennial Campus properties.

The engagement effort represents the next phase of the Committee’s work to provide independent, balanced guidance about how these properties might support the University’s long-term sustainability, academic mission, and commitment to the region.

“From the beginning, we have said this process must be informed by the people who care about UNC Asheville and who will be affected by its future,” said co-chair Peter Heckman. “Our responsibility is to listen carefully and ensure the Committee’s recommendations consider the breadth of perspectives in our community.”

Over the coming months, the Committee—supported by HR&A Advisors and Parks PR—will gather input through multiple channels. These will include:

• Online small-group feedback conversations with invited participants representing neighborhood, environmental, business, civic, and campus viewpoints;
• Individual interviews conducted by Committee members as well as the consulting team; and
• A community feedback platform open to the broader public.

More information about the Committee and opportunities for public input will be shared at go.unca.edu/millennial-campus/.

In the interest of openness and transparency, online small-group sessions will be recorded and made publicly available. Summaries of interviews and submissions received through the community feedback platform will also be posted online. A list of organizations and stakeholder categories represented in the interview process will be shared to provide clarity about the range of perspectives consulted.

All input will be synthesized by HR&A Advisors and Parks PR and presented to the Committee in the form of common themes, key concerns, and areas of opportunity. That synthesis will help inform the Committee’s final recommendations.

“People are taking their time to share thoughtful perspectives with us,” Heckman said. “The Committee understands and takes seriously its responsibility to listen and to weigh that input carefully.”

The Committee expects to continue its work through spring 2026, after which HR&A Advisors will compile recommendations into an action framework for consideration by the University.

About UNC Asheville

Founded in 1927, UNC Asheville is a proud member of the University of North Carolina System. With award-winning faculty, small class sizes, and 60+ academic programs in the natural sciences, human sciences, humanities, arts, and social sciences, the University is recognized for its robust paid internship programs to prepare students to immediately enter the workforce. In the US News & World Report 2025 edition of Best Colleges, UNC Asheville is ranked No. #9 in Top Public Schools, and No. #7 in Princeton Review’s 2025 Top 50 Guide to Green Colleges. Known as the Bulldogs, UNC Asheville student-athletes compete in 16 NCAA Division I Teams in the Big South Conference. For more information, please visit: www.unca.edu.