A day after forging a working relationship with a special operations unit from Fort Bragg, UNC system President Erskine Bowles was still excited.

On Thursday, the UNC system created a formal partnership with the United States Army Special Operations Command, the Fort Bragg-based unit that trains Green Berets, Army Rangers and the like for the sorts of overseas missions we don't always hear a lot about.

During a Friday meeting of the UNC system's Board of Governors, Bowles spoke of the new partnership as the university's way of making a difference.

"It's not only a chance to serve a market where we can bring a great deal of expertise to bear," he said. "It's our chance as civilians to really do something to positively impact our national security."

Click here for more.