By Paul Fulton and Brad Wilson
Co-Chairs, Higher Education Works
The University of North Carolina is revered as one of the best – if not the best – public university system in the country. Our state universities help distinguish North Carolina from other states.
As the UNC Board of Governors chooses a successor to outgoing President Tom Ross, the Board must maintain a process with the integrity and high standards that are consistent with the values of our university.
Set the bar high. Continue to search until the process yields a person of both state and national stature to lead the system.
Our future as a state depends on it. This is an enormous institution that has 220,000 students, 60,000 employees1 and a $27.9 billion impact on our state economy.2
The search process has prompted grumbling from various quarters in recent weeks.
But the Board of Governors must maintain a confidential process, exercise independent judgment and select a strong, strategic visionary to lead North Carolina’s most valuable asset forward. The board should do nothing to further politicize the President’s position.
That is what the Board has always done, and that is what it should do now.
1 http://www.highereducationworks.org/2015/05/the-future-of-public-higher-education-in-north-carolina-2/
2 http://www.northcarolina.edu/sites/default/files/documents/unc_aggregate_execsum_1213_final_formatted2_dated_feb20151.pdf, p. 2.
James Moeser says
Thank you for this strong statement. The political pressures to open up the search would guarantee a mediocre field of candidates. It is sad to see the Board of Governors becoming a circular firing squad abetted by a callous and uncaring General Assembly.
Lucy R Evans says
In SC, a State legislator, with NO background in Education, was chosen to be President of the College of Charleston last year! He was a state Senator and may still own a Civil War memoriabilia store and is a Son of the Confederacy! Yes, the hunt in SC became VERY political. I’m a North Carolinian by birth and mindset. The University system (I am a UNC-alumna) in NC is something of which I have always been extremely proud! Hopefully, this will continue!