Raise more money for merit scholarships and lead student recruitment efforts.
Raise $20 million to increase enrollment in first-year seminars.
Double the size of the Honors Program.
Improve employee welfare in regard to compensation and training.
Questions were answered in an agenda-style format - different than in previous years. This was done to keep the conversation positive and on topic, Student Body Vice President Todd Dalrymple said.
On academics
When asked how he would maintain the quality of the student body amid growing enrollment, Thorp said he would raise money for merit scholarships and do a better job of recruiting prospective students.
"We're going to have to take a much more active role in persuading folks to come to Carolina," Thorp said. "And I'm going to have to lead that effort."
Thorp said he wouldn't stop at improving study abroad programs, encouraging undergraduate research and reducing class sizes.
"We've been saying those same things for a long time and we need to come up with some other ideas," he said.
Thorp said he would need $20 million to raise first-year seminar enrollment from 60 percent to about 90 percent of the class.
On employee issues
While Thorp said some employee issues can't be fixed, he said he'll keep an eye on three specific ones: compensation, transportation and management training.
He said that UNC probably will raise the minimum pay rate this year and craft policies to ensure adequate training for management positions.
"There are a lot of folks that have become managers who don't have any training in how to be a manager," he said.
On safety
Thorp said he would look into lighting Coker Arboretum, a plan that has been considered and rejected in the past.
"One good thing about having a chancellor who's from here is that sometimes I can challenge some of these sacred things," he said, referring to past attempts to maintain the arboretum's natural, unlit environment. "If there's more we can do, I will be the most willing to bring things like that up."
Thorp also said that possible plans to redevelop University Square might reduce the abundance of alcohol near campus.
"It's hard for me to imagine a way we can discourage bars, but I can imagine that if we own 12 acres on Franklin Street that we will be able to encourage other vendors."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
