“We Are All Niners: Recovery, Remembrance and Resurgence” was the title of Chancellor Philip L. Dubois’ address at University Convocation, Thursday, Aug. 15.
This year’s Convocation marks the last Dubois will preside over as chancellor of the University, and it begins a new academic year just months following the saddest day in the history of the institution.
“Our first obligation this fall is to ensure that all members of the campus community feel safe and secure to do their best work,” stated Dubois.
While the University awaits an internal review of the campus response to the April 30 incident, the chancellor outlined steps underway: enhanced police presence at the University and light rail stations; additional active shooter response training; increased security for large events; additional safety information in classrooms; and continued attention to counseling and support services for students, faculty and staff.
“We do not want what happened here on April 30 to be forgotten … That tragedy will always be part of our history, as will Riley Howell, Reed Parlier, the four students who suffered physical injuries, the 45 students who ran for their lives from Kennedy 236, countless others who were locked down on campus for hours and a larger community of parents, family members and friends who worried about their loved ones while the scope of the tragedy unfolded in real time,” Dubois said.
“Our declaration for this year—We Are All Niners—speaks to the shared pain of April 30 but also to our shared commitment to recover, remember and advance UNC Charlotte to even higher levels of distinction,” he added.
Enrollment funding will be a challenge for the University, especially with a decline in first-year and transfer students. General Assembly-mandated changes in calculating and allocating enrollment change funds will result in a “gap” year with no new enrollment funding until fall 2020 for all UNC System institutions.
The chancellor noted that the decrease in enrollment “has a consequence both for the amount of tuition and fee revenue we’ll be able to collect this year, but also the appropriation that will be calculated next fall on the actual enrollments we have at that time.”
Ongoing construction continues on campus. During the upcoming academic year, the University Recreation Center will open, and progress will continue on the new science building and the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, both scheduled for completion in 2021.
Dubois also touched on the ongoing BerryDunn assessment of the University’s information technology organization and outlined various initiatives by the provost and other vice chancellors.
Early in his remarks, Dubois noted that leading UNC Charlotte, “which I have said is one of the great success stories in higher education in the post-War era,” is the best job in higher education.
“As Lisa and I leave, we are every bit as enthusiastic about our work at UNC Charlotte as we were in 2005, satisfied with what we’ve accomplished with your help but also looking forward to controlling our own calendars and recapturing some of the benefits of private life,” said Dubois. “I ask that you give your next chancellor the same amount of support and encouragement that you have given me over the years.”
During Convocation, new members of the faculty and professional staff are recognized along with faculty members who have been granted permanent tenure and those who are beginning their 25th year of service to the University. Additionally, faculty members promoted to full professor are acknowledged and presented with a Jefferson Cup. The honorees were: Gloria Campbell-Whatley, Special Education and Child Development; Shaozhong Deng and Jiancheng Jiang, Mathematics and Statistics; Xiuxia Du, Bioinformatics; Paula Eckard, Kirk Melnikoff and Elizabeth Miller, English; Ahmed El-Ghannam and Scott Kelly, Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science; Paul Fitchett, Middle, Secondary and K-12 Education; Concepcion Godev and Allison Stedman, Languages and Culture Studies; Yufeng Han, Finance; Christine Haynes, History; Shanti Kulkarni and Diana Rowan, Social Work; Jordan Poler, Chemistry; Jennifer Whitaker, Music; Shan Yan, Biological Sciences; Wlodek Zadrozny, Computer Science; Kexin Zhao, Business Information Systems and Operations Management; and Artie Zillante, Economics.
View more images from University Convocation.