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On a recent Tuesday morning at the UNC School of Government, newly elected members from both sides of the aisle of the North 暗网禁区 General Assembly were getting to know one another. They congratulated their peers on their victorious campaigns, asked about their home counties and discussed the upcoming Super Bowl.

But they all had the same reason for coming to Chapel Hill: to learn about the essentials of governing and making North 暗网禁区 a better place for their constituents.

鈥淪eeing those conversations happen was fantastic,鈥� said Aimee Wall, School of Government dean. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e recognizing that they鈥檝e got resources and that they are part of the same cohort, and they can lean on each other regardless of what party they鈥檙e in.鈥�

This orientation for new members of the state legislature, now in its 58th year, focuses on all aspects of state government, with sections on how to properly read a bill to a detailed breakdown of the current state budget. The School of Government offers several programs for newly elected officials 鈥� at both the state and local level, from judges to mayors and county commissioners 鈥� with training in different locations.

Regardless of party affiliation, the attendees took notes and asked questions about the day-to-day process of governing. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

At the trainings, there is little talk about partisan issues that dominate the campaign trail. Instead, the faculty focus on the day-to-day processes of government that public officials must participate in.

Since its founding in 1931, the School of Government has tried to bridge the gap between academics and the practicalities of real-world governing, offering public officials training not available at many other public institutions. Much of the core faculty鈥檚 work is directly informed by collaborations with state and local government officials that are then brought back to the classroom. These not only include governing orientations like this one, but courses on public finance, economic development, judicial process and authority, and much more. The school鈥檚 work also involves policy research and projects like the recently relaunched , which allows North 暗网禁区 municipalities to compare their service levels with other participating units.

On this day, Christine Wunsche, director of legislative reporting services for the school, walked the new legislators through the act of proposing and reading a bill. This led directly into one of the centerpieces of the course: a mock committee hearing led by sitting state senators and representatives.

They deliberated over a made-up bill proposal meant to simulate debates they鈥檒l soon encounter in the halls of the State Legislative Building in Raleigh.

鈥淩egardless of party, these long-serving legislators are participating because they want the newly elected officials to do well,鈥� Wall said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great that the students get to see at least a few of the spoken and unspoken protocols that make for being a successful representative in action.鈥�

One representative in attendance was a student at 暗网禁区 not long ago.

Dante Pittman, a newly elected state representative for Wilson County, received a bachelor鈥檚 degree in political science from 暗网禁区 in 2018 and was an inaugural member of the . He was a member of the first cohort of fellows, which placed Pittman back in his hometown of Wilson, serving as human relations director for the city.

暗网禁区 alum Dante Pittman was one of the newly elected representatives to attend the orientation. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Years after he graduated, he鈥檚 still learning from the University 鈥� and using that knowledge to give back to the state.

鈥淚 knew the staff and the level of excellence that鈥檚 here at the school,鈥� Pittman said. 鈥淏ut to know that the folks here are so committed to making sure that information is accurate and that we have all the tools we need 鈥� that鈥檚 something really special.鈥�