WHAT IS CITIZENS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION?
Citizens for Higher Education works to build political support for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the state’s other research universities. We aim to help the university:
- Address the challenge of competition for funds;
- Recruit and retain a world-class faculty;
- Attract the best and brightest students; and
- Enhance cutting-edge research that is critical to the state economy.
We are a political-action committee that backs state candidates who share our goals. We also take positions on issues to help the university. Our positions have always been consistent with those of the UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees.
Members pay dues of $2,500 a year to help. We also welcome junior members at reduced rates: $1,000 a year for members age 30 to 39, and $500 a year for those under 30. To become a member, click here or call 919-510-9240. To sign up for e-mail updates, click here.
The News & Observer
June 9, 2010
By Eric Ferreri - Staff Writer CHAPEL HILL -- With UNC-Chapel Hill hamstrung by budget constraints, more professors are leaving for higher pay elsewhere, often taking research projects or established programs with them. The school has lost 53 of 77 faculty members recruited by universities during the last academic year, a retention rate of about 30 percent. Most years, it wins 55 percent to 60 percent of its recruiting battles by boosting pay or adding resources such as a coveted piece of lab equipment. Submitted by Site Admin on Wed, 2010-06-09 19:40.
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May 20, 2010 – The $19 billion budget plan approved this week by the N.C. Senate doesn’t give the University everything it wants. But it definitely softens the cuts Gov. Beverly Perdue recommended in her proposed budget for 2010-11. “It's hard to say that you're happy with a budget that reduces education,” said Sen. Richard Stevens, R-Wake, co-chair of the Senate's education budget subcommittee. “But it's a better budget than it was.” Submitted by Site Admin on Thu, 2010-05-20 16:03.
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The News & Observer
May 13, 2010
By Holden Thorp A new round of significant cuts would have serious implications. At Chapel Hill we would lose full-time faculty in positions supported by state funding. We would have fewer fixed-term faculty and graduate teaching assistants. With fewer faculty and more students, classes would grow in size. And it would take our students longer to graduate.... We understand that resources are limited this year, and the needs of North Carolina are great. In this economy, tough choices have to be made. But now is not the time to retreat dramatically from the competitive advantage that higher education brings to North Carolina. Click here to read more.
The Charlotte Observer
Ruth Shaw, Chair of the UNC-Charlotte Board of Trustees
Op-Ed Page
Thursday, May 13, 2010 In this current academic year, and with proposed university system reductions for next year, the consequences of further reductions are severe. UNC Charlotte has managed by essentially absorbing 2,700 students with no additional faculty or staff; we have not filled more than 150 positions intended to support our growth. All of the funding for these positions has evaporated.... We know UNC Charlotte is a formidable driver for economic growth in our region. Our enrollment will likely top 25,000 this fall, and we are playing a vital part in retooling for new industries and positions to replace those our region has lost. But make no mistake: Our growth and our ability to respond will slow to a halt unless the governor and General Assembly preserve our enviable public university system. Click here to read more.
Asheville Citizen-Times
Editorial
May 9, 2010 Times are tough, and everyone is taking a hit. But the UNC system, which represents 13 percent of the state budget, has already absorbed almost one-third of the budget reversions.... As it stands now, we are on the precipice of doing lasting damage to our proud university system. The General Assembly can't let that happen. Click here to read more. Submitted by Site Admin on Thu, 2010-05-13 11:27.
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(Greensboro) News & Record
Sunday, May 9, 2010
By Linda P. Brady and Harold L. Martin Jr. Unfortunately, the budget cuts recently recommended by Gov. Bev Perdue for the next fiscal year would result in permanent and substantial damage to our institutions' academic core, and our ability to prepare students to compete successfully in today's global economy.... Join us in asking our legislative leaders to minimize cuts to our universities and to preserve academic quality, fiscal integrity and access to education. Our students and our community deserve no less. Click here to read entire column.
UNC General Administration April 20, 2010 UNC President Erskine Bowles today issued the following statement on Governor Beverly Perdue’s proposed 2010-11 state budget: As our state struggles to work its way out of this deep economic recession, affordable access to higher education has never been more important to North Carolina’s economic future. We are therefore grateful that Governor Perdue has recommended full funding for our projected University enrollment growth and need-based financial aid for next year. We are also pleased that the Governor has supported the Board of Governors’ alternative to legislatively mandated tuition increases for 2010-11. The alternative plan places less of a burden on in-state students, and the funds generated by the tuition increases would stay on the campuses to provide more need-based financial aid, help improve retention and graduation rates, and meet other critical campus needs. Submitted by Site Admin on Fri, 2010-05-07 16:22.
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Asheville Citizen-Times
By Clarke Morrison
May 6, 2010 ASHEVILLE — The chancellors of Western North Carolina's three public universities predict dire consequences for higher education if proposed
budget cuts are enacted. At stake, they said, are course offerings students need to graduate on time and long-term damage to a primary driver of economic development. Gov. Bev. Perdue's $19 billion budget plan for the coming fiscal year would slash spending on the university system by 5.9 percent. That would compound painful permanent and temporary cuts of almost 10 percent imposed by
state lawmakers this year, said Anne Ponder, chancellor of UNC Asheville. "Additional cuts beyond that would be just horrible,” Ponder said. “(Perdue) has put forth a budget that is fundamentally damaging.” Click here for more.
UNC News Services
March 25, 2010 The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has received a $5 million gift from the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust to support the recruitment of outstanding young faculty. The gift also has spurred a $500,000 commitment from an anonymous donor for the same purpose, said Chancellor Holden Thorp. Thorp told members of the University’s Board of Trustees today (March 25) that the gifts make a strategic move possible to bring the best junior faculty to the University. Just as important, he said, the gifts help signal how important junior faculty will be to American higher education and the nation’s livelihood in the years ahead. Submitted by Site Admin on Thu, 2010-03-25 20:28.
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Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill have won almost $130 million in research grants since last March as part of federal stimulus efforts. These grants highlight cutting-edge research at the University and helped rank the Triangle region third in the nation for receipt of stimulus funds awarded by the National Institutes of Health. “The fact that we’ve done so well with the stimulus money shows the quality of the faculty we have and the enormous power of research universities,” said Tony Waldrop, the vice chancellor for research and economic development at Chapel Hill. “It makes a significant impact on the North Carolina economy.” Submitted by Site Admin on Tue, 2010-03-16 16:26.
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