Hopes for 2024

by 1 Comment

RALEIGH (January 4, 2024) – The 2024 elections will be important to America – and to the future of American democracy. But they also will be vitally important to the future of North Carolina and its children. From governor to state legislators to local school boards, the state’s voters will make critical choices up and… READ MORE

2023: The chaos continues

by Leave a Comment

RALEIGH (December 28, 2023) – It might seem strange to complain about underfunding of public education in a year when North Carolina had a $4.8 billion budget surplus.1 But it’s true.  In a year when: North Carolina ranked 50th of 50 states in the percentage of GDP it devotes to K-12 public education, The state… READ MORE

They drove him out

by 3 Comments

EAST LANSING, Mich. (December 8, 2023) – They drove him out. As Higher Ed Works Chair Paul Fulton told us more than two weeks ago, the NC General Assembly, the UNC Board of Governors and especially the current UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees all but made it certain that Kevin Guskiewicz – a MacArthur “genius… READ MORE

Little wonder why Guskiewicz might leave

by 14 Comments

By Paul Fulton WINSTON-SALEM (November 21, 2023) – There’s little wonder why UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz is entertaining a new job. Guskiewicz is reportedly a finalist for the presidency at Michigan State University.1 Though he is a nationally renowned expert in neuroscience and concussions, a MacArthur Genius Award winner and a deft administrator,… READ MORE

What’s next in UNC admissions case? ‘Hard work’

by 1 Comment

HENDERSON (October 3, 2023) – What will happen after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the use of race in college admissions in June? Opinions varied widely in a recent debate – yet panelists reached surprising consensus on the need to improve K-12 public schools. The debate at Vance-Granville Community College was the first in… READ MORE

UNC System officials praise state budget

by Leave a Comment

RALEIGH (October 19, 2023) – UNC System officials predictably praised the new 2023-25 state budget today, saying it puts money into both UNC’s people and its property. “Faculty and staff work hard to serve our students and our mission, and we need to compensate them, particularly given inflationary pressures,” UNC System President Peter Hans told… READ MORE

You can’t buy excellence, but you must pay for it.

by 4 Comments

By Art Padilla RALEIGH (October 4, 2023) – The UNC System announced recently that tuition at the 16 campuses has not changed in eight years. In no small part, this reflects the deep affection North Carolinians have for their universities.  At the same time, several Board of Governors members expressed concern about the full cost… READ MORE

Florida-style bill would make colleges switch accreditors

by Leave a Comment

RALEIGH (September 28, 2023) – Last Thursday morning, HB8 in the NC General Assembly was titled “Computer Sci. Grad. Requirement.” It required high-school students to complete a computer science course to graduate, as it had since it was filed in January.1 But by the end of the day, as most of North Carolina was sifting… READ MORE