Margaret Spellings, president of the 17-campus UNC System, kicked off her State of the University tour at UNC Charlotte Center City Monday. Her address, to an audience of city and state education, business, nonprofit and political leaders, focused on mobility, accountability and public good as pillars that drive the work and goals of the UNC System. She built on the themes of on op-ed she co-authored with UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, published Monday in North State Journal, titled “UNC System making progress but there’s more work to do.”
Describing economic mobility as “the most defining issue of our time,” Spellings’ speech noted the city of Charlotte’s willingness to tackle the challenge of increasing opportunity for all its citizens — and UNC Charlotte’s role in doing so.
“A student from the bottom quintile who enrolls at UNC Charlotte is nearly six times more likely to reach the top quintile after they leave than a student who doesn’t pursue higher education,” she said. “When we do what we’re supposed to — reaching talented students from all backgrounds, getting them in the door, helping them graduate — college works. It changes lives, lifts families and transforms communities.”
Key to the ability of universities across the UNC System to increase access to students across all demographics, according to Spellings, is to ensure its affordability. She pointed out that with the support of the UNC Board of Governors and university chancellors, three public universities in North Carolina have dropped tuition to $500 per semester. She also called on a simpler, fairer approach to financial aid, highlighting two programs at UNC Charlotte, the 49er Finish program and the Gold Rush program, which are designed to help finance the final stages of finishing a degree for those most in need.
Next, Spellings reported that new methods of data collection and reporting will shine a light on statistics that universities need most to plan effectively, monitor year-to-year progress and, overall, remain accountable.
“Nationally, we’re seeing a discouraging retreat on shared standards and accountability in higher education,” she said. “I’m proud that North Carolina is charting a different course.”
With this announcement, she shared that UNC Charlotte has crafted a performance plan that will graduate 30 percent more low-income students by 2022; increase the five-year graduation rate by 6 percent; grow total research funding by 44 percent; and produce 34 percent more critical workforce credentials in teaching, science and technology, and health care.
She concluded her address by reaffirming the UNC System’s mission to advancing the public good. “It’s the reason this University exists,” she said. “We have to stand behind the core values of free expression, intellectual diversity and patient engagement with new ideas.”
Spellings’ Charlotte visit also included an appearance on WFAE’s (90.7 FM) “Charlotte Talks,” and a visit to UNC Charlotte’s Charlotte Teacher Early College, currently housed in the Cato College of Education. Spellings then used light rail to move on to UNC Charlotte Center City for her address.
Known nationally as an education thought leader and public policy expert, Spellings served as president of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, before joining the UNC System in March 2016, where she planned, managed, and implemented programs on economic growth, education reform, global health, and special initiatives focused on women and military service.
President Spellings’ State of the University tour will extend throughout the spring in the following locations: UNC Wilmington (March 21), UNC Fayetteville (April 9), UNC Pembroke (April 13), the Triad (April 18), UNC Greenville (April 25) and Western North Carolina University (April 27).
Photo: Margaret Spellings arrives at UNC Charlotte Center City via light rail with UNC Charlotte Provost Joan Lorden and Philip Byers, a member of the UNC Board of Governors.