When Does UNC Press TeamUP: Building Foundations of American Democracy Reader

Every November, University Press Week shines a spotlight on the vital role university presses play in advancing scholarship, fostering dialogue, and serving communities. This year’s theme—TeamUP—celebrates collaboration and the partnerships that make publishing possible and amplify its impact across higher education and beyond. 

At UNC Press, TeamUP isn’t just a concept; it’s a cornerstone of our work. We believe that when we join forces with scholars, institutions, and communities, we create resources that matter. One of our most exciting recent examples of this collaborative spirit is the launch of Foundations of American Democracy: A Critical Documents Reader. 

In September, we partnered with the UNC Chapel Hill Department of History and the UNC System to publish a new reader that supports the UNC System’s Foundations of American Democracy graduation requirement and brings together twenty-one essential texts—from the Declaration of Independence to Brown v. Board of Education—alongside key documents from North Carolina history. “The Press was eager to support a publishing opportunity to take cutting edge scholarship originating within the department of history at Chapel Hill and make it broadly available to students across the state,” said UNC Press Spangler Family Director, John Sherer.  

What makes this initiative a true TeamUP moment? 

Cross-campus collaboration: Eleven UNC historians contributed to the volume, with editors W. Fitzhugh Brundage, Kathleen DuVal, Joseph T. Glatthaar, Miguel La Serna, and Sophia Howells leading the effort. 

Statewide access: Thanks to UNC System support, the digital edition is free for students and faculty across all 16 public universities, as well as K–12 educators, community colleges, and public libraries via NC LIVE. 

Public engagement: We joined forces with the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to host a public program, Teaching the Foundations of American Democracy, featuring leading historians and archival exhibits as part of America 250 NC. Brundage, DuVal, Glatthaar, and La Serna also authored a recent op-ed for Public Works, reflecting on the role of history in preparing North Carolina students to engage thoughtfully with the nation’s founding principles and democratic ideals. 

This project exemplifies how university presses can amplify scholarship beyond the classroom, fostering civic literacy and dialogue at a time when understanding democracy is more urgent than ever. It’s a reminder that when we TeamUP—across departments, systems, and communities—we create resources that matter.