2000
In July, the University commits funds to support the establishment of the Center for Public Technology at the Institute of Government, with Kevin FitzGerald as director. The NC Association of County Commissioners provides additional funds to support the initial work of the Center. The focus of the Center for Public Technology is to respond to the needs of local government to improve skills, expand capacity of local services, and strengthen communities through the appropriate use of information technology.

In August 2000, the North Carolina General Assembly passes the Indigent Defense Services Act of 2000, creating the Office of Indigent Defense Services and charging it with the responsibility of overseeing the provision of legal representation to indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel under North Carolina law. John Rubin is involved in the 1999 Legislative Study Commission and establishes the Office at the School of Government in 2000-2001.

2001
Richard Whisnant becomes director of the UNC Environmental Finance Center, a joint project of the Institute of Government, the Kenan-Flagler School of Business, and the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Economic Development. The EFC is part of a national network of nine university-based centers funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EFC provides a range of financial planning and management assistance, including direct consultations with local communities, development and implementation of training programs, policy analysis, and dissemination of planning tools and information resources.

The status of the Institute of Government is elevated when it becomes the School of Government on October 12, 2001, reaffirming and strengthening the University’s long tradition of public service and commitment to the people of North Carolina.

2002
The Friends of the Institute program is launched.

Faculty members Frayda Bluestein, Jessica Smith, and Robert Farb expand the educational programs offered to public officials through the use of distance learning tools such as Web casts, audio casts, CDs, and Internet resources.

2003
The Digital Government Innovation Bulletin is launched by Mary Maureen Brown to explore the administrative, technological, and policy issues associated with the government’s use of information technology.

The Civic Education Consortium releases the NC Civic Index, the first-ever statewide study of youth and adult civic engagement. Following the release of the Index, the Consortium collaborates with local planning teams to host Community Forums across the state. These forums result in the development of local strategies to improve youth civic engagement, such as establishing Kids Voting programs, forming youth councils, and developing resources for educators to use in the classroom.

2004
The Knapp Building reopens for classes on January 8, 2004, after six years of demolition, expansion, renovation, and renewal. The facility is re-dedicated as the Knapp-Sanders Building at the School of Government on September 10, 2004.

2005
The Center for Public Technology hosts its first CIO Certificate Program in 2005. Thirty-four local government IT directors attend the 11-month school with one two-day training module per month.

The first Public Executive Leadership Academy, a 14-day course beginning in March, is held with sessions over a five-month period for 25 city and county managers and key department heads.

A Judicial College is funded by the NC General Assembly to provide administrative focus and direction to the overall educational program of the judicial branch at the School of Government.

A Community and Economic Development Bulletin is launched by Anita Brown-Graham to provide summaries of legislative action of interest to economic development directors and other state and local government officials.

Faculty member Janet Mason initiates a series, titled Juvenile Law Bulletin, to discuss selected court cases involving delinquent juveniles that were decided under the Juvenile Code that took effect in July 1999.