A New Year's Resolution
Posted on Jan. 15, 1989From the University Report (published by the GAA 1970-94)
Most Carolina alumni now know there is a significant distinction between a “state supported” university and a “state assisted” one. As a “state assisted” university, Carolina receives roughly 38% of its budget from state appropriations.
For some time alumni and friends of Carolina assumed that all the University’s needs were met by state appropriations. Clearly, this is not the case. Accordingly, the University has strengthened its initiatives for private support. This will continue as the University’s Bicentennial draws nearer, providing an opportunity not only to observe the 200th anniversary of public higher education, but also affording an opportunity to raise substantial sums of much needed private support.
However, as we look ahead, we should remember that the equivalent of our largest endowment will continue to come from the taxpayers of North Carolina. Alumni have an important opportunity to help our campus maintain and strengthen its level of state support.
Over the past year, much attention has been given to the declining competitiveness of our faculty salaries and fringe benefits. UNC System President C.D. Spangler ’54 recommended and the Board of Governors adopted a very ambitious $2.2 billion biennial budget that will be considered by the General Assembly during this session. This budget calls for a 20 percent increase in faculty salaries over the two-year period. In making this recommendation, President Spangler noted that “our institutions have been losing ground in their faculty salary and compensation levels. Unless we correct this decline, we are going to pay a price much higher than the cost of salary increases being recommended to you.” That price, he indicated, would be increasing difficulty in attracting and retaining the best and most promising scholars. Spangler noted “when that happens our programs and our institutions will decline in quality and in standing.”
But there is more to the Board of Governor’s budget than faculty salaries alone. The declining dollar has severely eaten into the purchasing power of funds available for library purchases. Accordingly, the Board of Governors’ budget includes a request for a 23% increase in acquisition funds for 1989-90 and 9% for 1990-91. Faculty development funds have been inadequate in the past and, again, the Board of Governors has recognized this in their budget request. Nearly two-thirds of Chapel Hill’s requests for capital improvements has been included in the Board of Governor’s budget, including funds for a new mass communications building, a new building for the School of Social Work, and a performing arts center. Of the Board of Governors’ $2.2 billion budget request, plus $580 million requested for capital improvements, our campus’ portion totals $521. 7 million for continuing operations, $43 million for program improvements and expansion and $113.5 million for capital improvements.
UNC Board of Governors’ chairman Roddey Jones has stated, “more must be done than in the past to get this budget request funded by the Legislature.” This is particularly true in light of fierce competition for state revenues at a time when these revenues are increasing only at modest rates. Understandably, the General Assembly has many priorities. Continued funding for the Basic Education Plan to strengthen elementary and secondary education in North Carolina’s public schools is important. This strengthens our state’s universities since a strong program of K-12 education provides more able students entering each campus of the UNC System. North Carolina must also spend more for prisons and expanded transportation.
Carolina alumni can assist our alma mater by encouraging our legislators to support President Spangler and the Board of Governors’ budget. This budget is generous to Chapel Hill. It is important that we urge its adoption. In the past, generous support from the General Assembly has strengthened our campus allowing it to better serve North Carolina. As North Carolina’s greatest asset, our University must continue to have strong financial assistance from the General Assembly.
Your continuing personal financial support for Carolina will always be important. Your generosity provides the “cutting edge” needed if we are to address increasing competition from other universities.
But as we continue our own financial support, we have the additional opportunity to help maintain and strengthen that all important state support. Should you need or want additional information regarding the university’s budget, please contact us. Of course, you can always contact your own legislator, c/o the State Legislative Building, Jones Street, Raleigh, N.C. 27611 (telephone 919/733-4111).
Let each of us include among our New Year’s resolutions a vow to do our part to exercise the collective influence of Carolina’s 170,000 alumni by assuring that the needs of our University re heard as the General Assembly addresses the difficult task of distributing limited funds to meet the state’s most pressing needs.
Yours at Carolina,
Douglas S. Dibbert ’70
