Yes – it was a tumultuous, divisive search with too many political overtones.
But it is time to close ranks behind Margaret Spellings, whom the UNC Board of Governors has selected as the next President of the University of North Carolina System.
The stakes are too high to do otherwise: The futures of 220,000 students, 60,000 employees, 17 campuses and our state’s economy depend on it.
“Education is not only fundamental to each individual North Carolinian, but to the success and future of this state, this country and to peace and stability in the world,” Spellings told the board.
“I believe this with every fiber of my being, and that is why I will work tirelessly with all of you to ensure that each and every student in North Carolina has not only access to higher education, but the skills and abilities to fully access the American Dream.” 1
As a former U.S. Secretary of Education, Margaret Spellings is a leader of national stature. She has charisma and a sense of humor – both of which she’ll need. We are hopeful for her leadership. We hope the position of president – arguably the most important job in North Carolina – comes to be viewed as less political during her tenure.
“Higher education is changing, and we have to change with it,” she said, adding that the public demands it. “They want a good value proposition, and they want it affordably.” 2
[SEE BELOW: The Spellings Report and the Future of UNC]
Spellings is difficult to categorize, according to Andy Rotherham, an advisor to former President Clinton.
“Conservatives are suspicious of her because she believes in public education, and liberals are suspicious of her because she’s a Republican who wants to reform public education,” Rotherham said. 3
Former UNC President Erskine Bowles, for one, is optimistic.
“Secretary Spellings is competent and capable,” Bowles said.
“She cares deeply about access, affordability, quality and accountability. She’s managed something very big; she’s managed in a public environment; she has experience dealing with the press and a legislative body. And she has great people skills. While she will face many doubters, there’s no reason to expect she can’t be a successful leader of North Carolina’s greatest public asset.”
We hope Spellings also advocates for retention of talented faculty – the heart of our public universities. “I look forward to working with faculty in this state to advance our shared cause. I would ask them to give me a chance,” she told reporters. 4
We all should give her that chance.
While the search for a president was unnecessarily contentious, outgoing Board of Governors Chairman John Fennebresque and the Search Committee deserve credit for resisting considerable outside influences and selecting a candidate of national standing.
And we continue to respect President Thomas Ross for his leadership during an exceedingly difficult five-year period.
We wish President-Elect Spellings the grace with which Ross has handled the transition to new leadership.
1 http://www.northcarolina.edu/?q=presidential-search
2 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article41344425.html
3 Ibid.
4 http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article41265096.html
The Spellings Report and the Future of UNC
Newly elected UNC System President Margaret Spellings is best known in higher education circles for her 2005-06 Commission on the Future of Higher Education, which released a much-discussed report on the future of American colleges and universities.
In significant ways, the recommendations of that report track with the initiatives and priorities of Our Time Our Future, the UNC System’s 2013 strategic plan, which continue to guide North Carolina’s public universities.
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Ray S. Farris says
These are good statements. I agree that we should give Margaret Spellings the benefit of doubts many have.
It would be beneficial to have a listing of current BOG members with their work and their educational backgrounds.