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GOP bill would expand UNC Board of Governors, change appointment process

BY: - May 31, 2023

The UNC Board of Governors would gain four new seats and shift from election by the General Assembly to direct appointment under a revised version of a bill moving quickly toward Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk. Senate Bill 512 made a splash when filed last month due to provisions that would further strip powers from the […]

As state spending talks resume, UNC System leaders praise Senate budget

BY: - May 30, 2023

House and Senate budget conferees will be back at work after the Memorial Day holiday trying to find common ground and finalize a $29.8 billion state spending plan. Based on last week’s meeting of the UNC System Board of Governors, it’s clear there is a preference among the state’s higher education leaders for the Senate’s […]

Rep. Abe Jones on the House floor

State lawmaker was angered by colleague’s racist comments, but chose to forgive

BY: - May 24, 2023

A white, Republican colleague’s question about whether Rep. Abe Jones was admitted to Harvard University in 1970 because he was a minority and a track athlete was only the second time the Wake County Democrat had experienced such an encounter. The first incident occurred several years ago during a party at UNC Chapel Hill when […]

COMMENTARY

Monopoly men: GOP legislative leaders continue to extend their power in all directions

BY: - May 23, 2023

Is there any aspect of life in modern North Carolina for which the Republican majority of the General Assembly doesn’t see itself as the font of all wisdom and rightful final arbiter? That’s not a facetious question. GOP pols and their pals on the religious right and in the business and gun lobbies love to […]

Senate budget would cut funding to UNC Law School, School of Government, fund controversial new school

BY: - May 17, 2023

Two prominent schools at UNC-Chapel Hill would have their funding cut by millions while a controversial new school would be created and funded under the proposed Senate version of the state budget. The budget proposal, released Monday, includes a $2.5 million cut to both the UNC School of Law and UNC School of Government in […]

Bill would mandate history course, prescribe curriculum at UNC universities, community colleges

BY: - May 15, 2023

Should students at UNC System Schools and community colleges be required to take a course on history and government, irrespective of their majors? Should lawmakers be able to prescribe the curriculum for such a course, rather than campus leaders and faculty? Those are a couple of the thorny questions sparked by House Bill 96, one […]

COMMENTARY
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What’s behind the Republican attack on accreditation?

BY: - May 12, 2023

If you were going to spend thousands of dollars seeking a college degree, you’d want to be sure to get your money’s worth: knowledge vetted by subject-matter experts; teachers who use the best practices to promote student growth; and a range of experiences that help you discover and develop your potentials. You’d want to avoid […]

Aerial over the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Higher ed experts: “Harm can come to our students” in changing accreditation process

BY: - May 11, 2023

A bill that would compel UNC System universities and community colleges to change accreditors flew under the radar in the recent flurry of higher education legislation at the General Assembly. But as Senate Bill 680 clears legislative hurdles on the way to becoming law, the public should pay attention to the “in the weeds” issue […]

Education experts to discuss controversies surrounding university accreditation

BY: - May 10, 2023

When the crossover deadline passed at the North Carolina General Assembly last week, some of the most controversial higher education-related bills filed this legislative session hadn’t yet passed from one chamber to the other, taking them off of the conventional path to becoming law. But Senate Bill 680, which would dramatically change the way universities […]

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Monday numbers: the continuing student suicide crisis at NC State

BY: - May 1, 2023

Last week, students at North Carolina State University concluding their first week of finals learned of terrible news: two apparent student suicides. “This is heartbreaking,” Chancellor Randy Woodson wrote in a community message Thursday. “And I know there’s little I can say to console the deep hurt or heal the immense grief felt by the […]

Aerial over the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“A war on higher education in our state” NC faculty group pens open letter opposing slate of higher ed-related bills

BY: - April 26, 2023

The North Carolina chapter of the American Association of University Professors released an open letter Wednesday opposing a slate of higher education-related bills the group says will threaten academic freedom, diversity efforts and non-partisan university governance. Taken together, the letter says, the proposed changes “effectively constitute a war on higher education in our state.” The […]

Bill requires lawmakers to approve state community college system president

BY: - April 4, 2023

Senate Republicans approved an amendment to a charter school bill Tuesday that would require presidents of the state’s community college system to be approved by the General Assembly. The amendment was added to House Bill 149 that would extend the state’s virtual charter school pilot program and allow charter schools to establish remote academies. Sen. […]