Colleagues
As I shared in my October State of the University address, now is the time for reinvention and innovation. I know many of you are engaged in conversations at the program and unit level regarding such possibilities. Your efforts, ideas, and engagement are critical to our success.
Our leadership team has been hard at work and there’s been quite a bit of progress. Here are some u
- This week I will meet with the Board of Governors where the funding formula will be considered for approval by the full board. I anticipate they will support it.
- My team and I have worked with the System Office to help them understand the complex factors that have led to our enrollment decline. I’m pleased that our advocacy has led to the Board of Governors consideration of a request for a one-time stop-loss provision for several campuses, including UNCG, which is intended to give campuses time to reduce their expenses in light of revenue declines. The stop-loss would provide some relief, but would not close the funding gap.
- As promised, we hosted meetings between rpk GROUP, a higher education consulting firm, and different stakeholders. Thank you to the Faculty Senate executive committee, chairs, heads, directors, and deans who took the time to meet with rpk. Many of you asked important questions and provided insightful suggestions. This will inform how we structure the scope of rpk’s work. To be clear, we are not asking rpk to make recommendations, but rather to provide the much needed data horsepower to help us be more strategic in our decision-making across academic and administrative units. As I also said in my address and in multiple forums, faculty and staff are charged to work with their vice chancellors, deans, chairs, heads, and provost to review our academic programs to identify curricular efficiencies. This is essential in light of the new funding formula and enrollment decline. The rpk data can help inform those decisions, but I encourage you to start having these conversations now.
- Forums: I mentioned new on-ramps for participation to elicit feedback and ideas
- “Open Space”: we are piloting two sessions this semester: one with the School of Nursing staff and faculty; and one with the Faculty and Staff Senates. These are intended to allow faculty and staff the opportunity to come together with a facilitator to discuss challenges, solutions, and whatever else is on your mind.
- Provost Storrs and I have continued to meet faculty from the Schools and Colleges.
- We have dates set for forums with staff in the Spring Semester.
- Provost Storrs will continue to host a series of small group meetings with faculty to listen and learn (to sign up for a session, go to Small Group Sign Up).
- Innovation and Reinvention grants
- Student Success – Associate Vice Provost Regina McCoy has announced a request for proposals for student success in recognition that program faculty have expertise and ideas on how they can further support student engagement and retention at the local level. Learn more about the RFP.
- Additional funding opportunities will be announced soon, please stay tuned.
UNCG is a vibrant university that remains laser-focused on unlocking the potential of those largely left on the sidelines of education — providing economic mobility that uplifts generations of North Carolinians. We continue to produce impactful scholarship, creative activity, and research that benefits our communities. But the higher education landscape has changed and we must change with it.
As we head into the holiday season, I am reminded we have much to be thankful for, despite the challenges we are facing on campus. I am particularly thankful for our hardworking students and you, our passionate and committed faculty and staff. I look forward to continued collaboration and partnership to ensure this University is here for future generations of Spartans, providing access to academic excellence for all.
Chancellor Gilliam
Chancellor’s State of the University address (October, 2022):