North Carolina Carolina at Chapel Hill). More than 200 years later, the University of North Carolina system encompasses 17 public universities including North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, East Carolina University, Western Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, UNC Wilmington, Elizabeth City State University, Appalachian State University, Fayetteville State University, and UNC School of the Arts, and . Along with
University of North Carolina at Charlotte at Charlotte." "UNC Charlotte" and "UNCC" have been accepted as shortened versions of the name, and the athletic department has used "Charlotte" since 2000. Niner Transit is the university's free bus system on campus. The three bus lines in the system are Green, Gold, and Silver. The Lynx Blue Line began service on its extension in March 2018. It serves UNCC via the JW Clay/UNC Charlotte station and the UNC Charlotte Main Station and transport riders to Uptown Charlotte and South Charlotte. The service is free for students. UNC Charlotte is served also by the Charlotte Area Transit System, or