Board of Governors evaluates effects of 15.6 percent cuts

UNC-system administrators will be presented today with campus-by-campus data detailing a clearer picture of the effects of this year’s budget cuts.

At its monthly meeting, the system’s Board of Governors is expected to evaluate the repercussions of a 15.6 percent, or $414 million, state cut.

“It will be a full-blown presentation with lots of detail,” said Charlie Perusse, vice president for finance for the UNC system. “Programs, people, information — all kinds of good stuff.”

The board’s committee on personnel and tenure will discuss the effects of the cut on faculty retention, said Phil Dixon, chairman of the committee.

He said he’s concerned about system schools losing faculty members to other institutions that can offer them a higher salary.

To combat this problem, UNC-system schools should develop a game plan for identifying and retaining indispensable faculty members, he said.

Program review update

One way the system is trying to cope with the budget cut is by eliminating unnecessary academic programs.

A review of possible unnecessary duplication among programs was announced by system President Thomas Ross in January.

At today’s meeting, Jim Woodward, former chancellor of UNC-Charlotte and N.C. State University and head of the review, will update board members on the review’s progress.

Woodward said one part of his update will include a discussion to define terminology used when talking about the review.

“What do we mean when we say ‘unnecessary?’” he said. “What do we mean when we say ‘program?’”

Woodward said he will also seek board members’ guidance as he moves forward with the review.

“What will be interesting is not so much my presentation but the comments and questions back from the Board of Governors,” he said.

How to help the military

Irvin Roseman, chairman of the board’s public affairs committee and an Army veteran, said the committee will discuss how to facilitate outreach to military members.

“These people have great educational opportunities that most people don’t have,” he said. “We want these students to choose a UNC education and live and work in North Carolina.”

Attracting current and former military personnel to system schools will benefit both the service members and the schools, said Kimrey Rhinehardt, vice president for federal relations for the UNC system.

“For a long-term economic development strategy, it’s our goal to figure out how do we as a University enable our students and faculty to engage in a way that’s meaningful and contributes to the longer-term national security strategy,” she said.

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