Bowles Inaugurated as UNC System Head

Posted on April 13, 2006

Erskine B. Bowles ’67 was inaugurated April 12 as the fourth president of the 16-campus UNC System. He took over the president’s duties Jan. 1 following the retirement of Molly Broad.

State government and education dignitaries and about 1,500 people gathered at UNC-Greensboro to hear Bowles warn that North Carolina must get more people better educated if it is to compete in a knowledge-based economy without borders.

“And I’m not talking about in 50 years. I’m talking about in my lifetime. In your lifetime,” he said.

His promise for his presidency was that “the North Carolina of tomorrow will be better educated. It will be smarter. And it will be more nimble. And as a result, our people will be able to compete – and compete successfully – with the world’s best and brightest.”

Bowles said the state must improve K-12 education and teacher training, and must elevate the status of its community college and find more ways for them to collaborate with the universities. He also cited as priorities faculty retention, keeping a college education affordable and keeping research on a high level.

The Carolina Alumni Review‘s question-and-answer with Bowles, recorded just before he took office, is available online.

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