UNC Examines Its Impact on State

The survey is a component of a biennial report from the Office of Economic Development that aims to show the positive economic impact that UNC has on the state.

Serving North Carolina is part of the University's mission, which has been widely considered as repeated budget cuts at the state level have made officials reconsider many of UNC's priorities, officials say.

Next year's budget cuts also could hurt the University as the state faces at least a $1.5 billion shortfall.

University officials say they will be able to better defend UNC's funding if they are armed with data backing up the University's benefits to the state.

"(The survey) helps distinguish this work from a run-of-the-mill analysis that other universities do," said Michael Luger, OED director.

"It has a potential impact of telling the legislature what UNC contributes in terms of finance, human resources and new technological development," said Jun Koo, a research associate at OED. "It's very, very critical."

The surveys were sent out in a mass e-mail to the entire campus community, asking for participation.

Luger said the quality of the report is dependent on the University community's cooperation in filling out these surveys.

"The richness of what we do relies on a good response from the University community," he said.

The faculty survey focuses on the faculty's contributions to the state through public service, entrepreneurial activities and research, while the student survey centers more on the spending patterns of students.

Luger said UNC has a multiplier effect on the state economy by bringing in money to North Carolina that otherwise would not have been spent in North Carolina.

Luger said this makes the University an investment, not an expenditure.

"One of the major findings (of the past surveys) was that for every dollar the state legislature appropriates to UNC, it generates three additional dollars that wouldn't have otherwise been spent," Luger said.

The first part of the faculty survey asks professors if they would be working in the state if they were not employed by the University.

Luger said he expects that some of the faculty will reply with a "yes" but that many will answer negatively, showing the high quality of experts UNC brings to the state.

"We want to get a feel for what percent of (the faculty) competes nationally," Luger said.

The student survey focuses more on UNC student spending patterns, especially those of out-of-state students, that benefit the state's economy.

Luger said UNC students' spending on food, entertainment and other items fuels N.C. industries.

Another group of questions addresses more funding issues, asking students to indicate what percentage of their savings, loans and employment money comes from out of state.

For example, Luger said out-of-state students might open a bank account with Wachovia, which would bring out-of-state money into the N.C. economy.

The survey's findings will not be independently released but will be part of a larger report released in April -- about a month before the N.C. General Assembly typically begins its budget planning.

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.