UNC System President Margaret Spellings completed her 100-day tour around the state, visiting all 17 UNC campuses. Upon her return, she discussed the efforts between the UNC system and the legislature regarding higher education policy.
“I do think that we not only have the right but also the responsibility in this university to fill up the policy pipeline with the best ways to solve the problems the legislature has rightly identified. That’s our job.”
Several new pieces of legislation from the General Assembly will impact the University System, including NCGAP and Senate Bill 873.
NCGAP is a program designed to send more students to community college by either increasing acceptance standards or decreasing enrollment of freshman. The General Assembly recently approved delaying the program, after the Board of Governors requested it not start until 2018.
Senate Bill 873, sought to set tuition at five UNC system schools at $500 dollars a semester, as well reduce student fees and set limits on increases. This legislation was met with protest from the schools and local communities.
In light of these controversial pieces of legislation, Spellings said that she plans to reexamine the roles and relationships of those within the UNC system.
“At some point we need to step back and look at the governance of the system and do we have the right calibration of authority and accountability combined.”
Spellings said it is crucial that the Board of Governors, President, chancellors and legislature agree on common goals for the education system and play their parts to work together to accomplish those goals.
“We have to resist the urge to dip down and micromanage if we have that alignment right. And so I think as part of the strategic planning process maybe that’ll be a time for us to do that as well.”
Part of the planning process, Spelling said, is to make the system more efficient. One area that needs attention she said, is the use of technology.
“I’m creating a presidential task force on technology. Are we deploying that as well as possible?”
She talked specifically about online classes. Although there is currently no price differentiation between tech-based classes and in-person instruction, Spellings said she believes the students deserve fair prices for the instruction they are receiving.
“Is it clear to the consumer, to the student, how to get a degree and how to do that sequencing so that one can get a degree and be very efficient about it?”
Spellings ended her discussion of education policy saying, “There’s a lot we can look at and use every dollar to greatest effect.”
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