UNC Board of Trustees restructures university affairs committee

The Board of Trustees will mark its first meeting of the academic year today with an organizational change.

In order to promote more focused conversation within its committees, members have split the University affairs committee into two parts — establishing a branch for student affairs and another for academic affairs.

Previously, the board consisted of committees for University affairs, building and grounds and audit and finance.

“University affairs seemed to have the heaviest agenda,” said Wade Hargrove, who was elected board chairman in July.

Last year, the University affairs committee often featured detailed discussions of both student-related and academic issues, particularly Greek system reform.

“The purpose is to provide more opportunity for in-depth discussion of matters affecting students and the faculty,” Hargrove said.

He proposed the division of University affairs after consulting with Vice Chairwoman Barbara Hyde and the former University affairs chairman, Alston Gardner.

Hargrove said a similar structure existed years ago.

Student Body President Mary Cooper said the move will give her more time to present issues relevant to students.

Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Bruce Carney will present a report on recent trends in UNC student debt-to-degree ratios to the student affairs committee today.

Carney is also scheduled to speak about faculty workloads and peer institutions at the academic affairs meeting.

As Hargrove settles into his new position, he said he is looking forward to moving beyond last year’s focus on the football investigation.

“We hope that we can soon get the distraction of the problems with football behind us as a university and direct our focus to the academic mission of the University,” he said.

Contact the University Editor at university@dailytarheel.com.