TO THE EDITOR:
Article IX, Section 9, of the North Carolina Constitution reads, “The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.”
The General Assembly’s commitment to this mandate is the reason North Carolina has always been a national leader in providing affordable higher education to its citizens.
The state’s two flagship universities, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and N.C. State, rank number one and four, respectively, on The Princeton Review’s list of “2014 Best Value Colleges” for public colleges. These research universities provide low-cost, high-value education while stimulating North Carolina’s economy.
NCSU, for example, generates $1.7 billion in direct economic impact each year, and returns $8 into the economy for every $1 received in state funding.
As an NCSU student and the son of a former UNC-system professor, I recognize the positive impact the system has on North Carolina.
Western Carolina University, for example, is home to over 10,000 students and is the largest employer in Jackson County. From Cullowhee to Elizabeth City, communities across North Carolina benefit from the contributions made to our state by the UNC system.
North Carolina’s investment in higher education is a commitment to the long-term success of its citizens and economy.
Ensuring this commitment requires North Carolinians to continue to prioritize affordable higher education.
