Good afternoon. Today I will summarize key points from last week’s Board of Governors meeting with a focus on the Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs.
Specifically, I’ll address:
- The proposed Revision to the Policy on Fostering Undergraduate Student Success (Section 400.1.5 of the UNC Policy Manual)
- Academic degree program actions
- An update on Project Kitty Hawk
- An update on academic program planning discussions related to the UNC System’s Return on Investment study
I’ll also provide an update on the Faculty Senate’s recommendations for faculty salaries, Faculty Handbook revisions, and the Faculty Workload Policy.
As we discussed in the January Faculty Senate meeting, the UNC System Office sent constituent institutions a draft of the proposed policy revisions to Section 400.1.5, inviting campus feedback. Based on the feedback, updates to the draft revisions were made, and then presented to the Board of Governors. Last Wednesday, the Board’s Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs voted in favor of the revisions, and the policy update is now poised for final approval by the full board in April. The key update in these revisions is the introduction of a new academic requirement, effective for students entering July 1, 2025. To earn a baccalaureate degree, students will need to complete coursework on the foundations of American democracy. This includes an in-depth study of our nation's founding documents—like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence—and critical discussions on milestones toward forming "a more perfect Union." This requirement can be fulfilled through one comprehensive course or two separate ones, each addressing specific learning outcomes. Importantly, the initial draft’s stipulation for a three-credit hour minimum has been removed, offering greater flexibility in how these courses integrate into our curricula. We anticipate exemptions being available for students with relevant prior learning, including postsecondary coursework from non-UNC System institutions or qualified examination scores, such as Advanced Placement test scores. Detailed regulations, including exemptions, will be issued by the president to ensure a smooth implementation.
As the Chancellor noted in her update to campus on Friday, the Board of Governors officially approved the establishment of our Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences. This new program is a strategic addition to our Beaver College of Health Sciences academic offerings, designed to address the growing demand for healthcare professionals and to provide our students with a rigorous, interdisciplinary education that aligns with current industry standards. The approval is a testament to our faculty’s proactive approach to educational development and our commitment to academic rigor and relevance in our curriculum offerings. The program is set to commence in the fall, and will be available in Boone, Hickory and online.
Following the recent update about Project Kitty Hawk to the Board of Governors, it is clear that the project is making significant strides — with more than 1,000 additional students enrolled at UNC System institutions through the program. Our discussions in February with the Project Kitty Hawk team have been promising, paving the way for potential collaborations to enhance our offerings for adult learners. It’s important to note that any prospective students identified through the PKH program, which is solely owned and operated by the UNC System, are:
- Students who intend to gain education at a UNC System school
- Students who are not already attending a UNC System school.
Several App State programs have indicated an interest in participating in a future relationship with PKH. As we consider this strategic partnership, we remain committed to due diligence, ensuring any collaboration aligns with our mission and academic strategic plan.
As I’ve shared several times this semester, each UNC System university is reviewing its ROI study results and developing action plans to address programs with low Student ROI. As we progress with our work in this regard, I want to express my deepest appreciation for all faculty who have contributed to the action plans for programs identified as having a low Student Return on Investment. The dedication and insight of our faculty have been instrumental in this review process. We feel positive about the progress we have made and will soon submit our proposed plans to the System Office for review. In the joint meeting of the BoG’s Ed Planning Committee and the Committee on Strategic Initiatives, there was discussion on potential applications of the ROI study’s metrics in our long-standing Academic Program Planning processes. The committees proposed an update to the Policy on Academic Program Planning, UNC Policy Manual 400.1, which is under consideration. No action was taken at the meeting, but we can expect there will be more discussion to come.
I’d like to take a moment here to address Kevin Gamble's query last month regarding the Faculty Senate’s recommendation on faculty salaries. Competitive compensation for faculty has been — and remains — a key priority for Chancellor Everts and me. We recognize that competitive salaries are key to attracting and retaining outstanding faculty, and we remain dedicated to leveraging any authority granted to her by the legislature and the Board of Governors to increase compensation for our faculty. Thanks to our lawmakers in Raleigh, we know we can all count on a 3% across-the-board increase next year. That said, we recognize that we have work ahead of us to bring faculty salaries in line with those of our peer institutions. Vice Chancellor Dan Layzell and I are in regular communication with Faculty Senate Budget Committee chair Jim Westerman, and as we have shared with him, the budget process is just beginning to unfold for the upcoming year. I encourage you to visit the Budget Central website for detailed information on the legislative biennial budget process, and the university budget process. I’d also like to make sure you’re aware of the campus budget presentations coming up on April 12. More information will be sent to campus soon about these, but I hope you will mark your calendars and plan to attend.
Finally, I’d like to address the Faculty Senate’s recommended Faculty Handbook revisions. Vice Provost Neva Specht is leading the review of the requested changes, and this work is underway. Additionally, the regulation associated with the Faculty Workload Policy (The UNC Policy Manual 400.3.4[R]) was signed by President Hans last month, and Neva plans to have a draft update of our policy and associated procedures that conform with the recently enacted regulation by mid-March. She will get input through Deans, Council of Chairs, and Faculty Senate. We anticipate the updated policy and any other recommended changes to the Faculty Handbook going to the Board of Trustees for review in June.
Today marks the halfway point of the semester, and I’d like to thank you all for your hard work and dedication to our university’s mission as we near the end of another academic year. Spring Break is around the corner, and I hope you can take some time to relax and recharge.
Thank you.