The Daily Tar Heel

Serving the students and the University community since 1893

°F
Monday July 4th

Faculty And Administration

Unsustainable scholarship: How private companies control research in higher education

By Preston Lennon | Sep. 18, 2019

Academic research is a staple of university libraries. Faculty depend on it for their own research, and students need it for their studies. But because of private publishing companies, who play a confusing and controlling role in the process of research creation, UNC Libraries is sounding alarms about the system's flaws.  The publishing companies make money by selling research journal access to university libraries in confidential deals. UNC Libraries said there's an imbalance in the process, because tax payers subsidize research authoring, then subsequently have to pay again for research access.  Rebels against the publishing giants advocate for open access — publishing online for free without paywalls — and say that continuing to buy into publishers' demands will impair scientific progress.

Read More »
Interim Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz fields a reporter's question during an interview in South Building on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. "I've heard students express concern over the distrust that they have with police... and I remain committed to ensuring their safety," Guskiewicz said.

Uncertainty surrounds UNC administration as chancellor search begins

By Maeve Sheehey | Aug. 19, 2019

By LDOC of last year, a handful of UNC administrators left the University, including one of the most important figures on and off campus: the chancellor. Former Chancellor Carol Folt left in January, and since then, interim leaders have filled the positions left behind in the wake of the administrative fallout.  As the school year begins, the search for a permanent replacement for chancellor will also start, and students, faculty and graduates make up the group to recommend candidates to the Board of Trustees. From there, a series of approvals through the University president and Board of Governors will culminate in a new chancellor.  Kevin Guskiewicz, who has served as interim chancellor since Folt's resignation, said he is interested in being considered as a candidate for the next chancellor. Though the search process has not officially begun, Board of Trustees Chairperson Richard Stevens said he hopes Guskiewicz officially applies to be the permanent chancellor when the time comes. 

Read More »
Chancellor Carol Folt takes questions during the media availability of the UNC Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Jan. 31 2018 at the Carolina Inn.

Search for UNC's 12th Chancellor kicks off at the Carolina Inn

By Preston Lennon | Jul. 9, 2019

After a Board of Governors member interfered with a chancellor search at Western Carolina University by independently contracting a firm to look into a finalist's background, the BOG reformed the guidelines of the process.  Multiple third-party search firms will be involved, as well as deep background checks. UNC will foot the bill for most of it. UNC system president Bill Roper came to a Board of Trustees meeting to brief the board on the revamped selection process, which will get underway with the selection of a diverse search committee.  The search committee will work with a firm contracted to find suitable candidates, but the firms' business model leads to an emphasis on confidentiality, keeping the public out of the process. A University of Florida professor explains how external firms have taken power away from students and community members by conducting interviews by airports to keep chancellor candidates' identities a secret. 

Read More »