The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said it will not release the results of a survey of its Institute for Civic Life and Leadership. The investigation into the two-year-old school cost $1.2 million, according to UNC.
The school, commonly known as SCiLL, has been controversial for two main reasons: the conservative values of its leadership and the infighting and accusations that have led to mass turnover among its teaching staff. The latter prompted SCiLL’s first dean, Jed Atkins, to ask UNC to conduct a third-party investigation.
The University of North Carolina obliged and retained the law firm K&L Gates to conduct interviews with interested parties over a period of seven months. Incoming Chair Michael Gerhardt serves as K&L’s expert advisor.
The school described the investigation as “lengthy, detailed and exhaustive” but would not release the company’s findings, saying it could damage or embarrass subjects and sources. The university said it considered releasing the report but ultimately decided not to do so to protect those who shared their views with K&L. Leaders also cited the protection of attorney-client privilege and university culture as key reasons for a lack of transparency.
UNC did say, however, that while the university is committed to taking any necessary corrective actions, the findings leave leadership “confident in SCiLL’s continued strength and success.” [Atkins’] lead. “
When SCiLL was conceived by conservative faculty and leadership at the University of North Carolina, it was intended to be a refuge for intellectual diversity in what they saw as a liberal institution.
But soon, bureaucracy and personnel problems began to plague the school. As of 2024, none of the first faculty members will be working at SCiLL. Associate Dean David Decosimo was abruptly fired in the fall. SCiLL defectors have been vocal about what former faculty member Jon Williams calls a “complete disaster”.
“Reform must be based on merit, courage and principles, not nepotism, ideology and secret handshakes,” De Cosimo wrote on X in September 2025 after he was fired. “Requiring oaths of loyalty and unquestioning obedience while choosing personal relationships and membership of certain networks is even worse.”
While Atkins is at the center of much of the accusations and drama surrounding SCiLL, he said in a statement that he remains positive about the school’s mission: “Our sense of purpose will shape education for generations to come—students whose learning, character, and leadership will enrich our state, nation, and world,” Atkins wrote.
At a faculty committee meeting in January, Gerhardt said the report was more than 400 pages long. The law firm reviewed more than 200,000 documents and conducted more than 50 interviews with dozens of current and former faculty and leaders, but not students.
In a statement regarding the findings, UNC listed some of SCiLL’s success stories:
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There are more than 20 new faculty members and nearly 1,000 students are taught.
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So-called Civic Discourse residential communities began.
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Exports its signature civil discourse curriculum to 35 other institutions.
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Leverage funding from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a Summer Citizenship Institute and Public Fellows program for high school teachers and students.
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A master’s degree program in military leadership and a doctoral degree program are currently being developed for active-duty officers. Civic Educator Program.
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Received a US$10 million grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Chancellor Lee Roberts also issued a statement on the investigation.
“Opening a new school at a leading public research university is an ambitious undertaking under any circumstances,” Roberts wrote. “Doing this under intense public scrutiny and intense scrutiny requires resilience, focus and determination. Dean Jade Atkins has demonstrated that determination.”
“SCiLL was created to strengthen civic knowledge, civil discourse, and principled leadership—values essential to a thriving democracy and core to Carolina’s public mission,” Roberts added. “The college will continue to develop and progress, and the university will work alongside it, with confidence in the future.”
UNC spokesman Kevin Best said UNC did not use any state funds to fund the investigation and instead used its endowment.
