97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck speaks with Durham Tech president JB Buxton and UNC chancellor Lee Roberts.
This hour focuses on the state of higher education in 2025, with a focus on UNC-Chapel Hill and Durham Technical Community College. It’s a tumultuous and challenging time for colleges and universities, though challenging times can also create new opportunities and exciting developments. Higher education is facing a lot of pressure at the federal level, with major cuts in research funding combined with a backlash against programs and projects that promote diversity and inclusion. Faculty members are expressing concerns about their academic freedom – and they’re also feeling a financial pinch, with the lack of a state budget. And while the rise of AI is opening countless new doors for research and scholarship, it’s also causing major headaches for teachers – and creating massive uncertainty for students who are now having to prepare for a completely unpredictable future. How are colleges and universities navigating all those questions? And what’s happening on campus that we ought to be celebrating? Buxton and Roberts weigh in on those questions and more – and yes, Roberts touches briefly on Tar Heel football as well.
The 2025 “Forum On The Hill” is presented by the Town of Chapel Hill, UNC Health, Wegmans, Coleman Merritt Murphy & Rainsford P.C., and The Law Office of Chris Barnes. Listen to the panels live on 97.9 The Hill WCHL the week of Dec. 8-12 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., or revisit them the day after on-demand at Chapelboro.com, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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