What Can We Do?
Posted on March 14, 2000Over the GAA’s 157-year history, volunteer leaders and staff have worked with University trustees, administrators, faculty, staff and students to preserve and enhance the value of a Carolina
diploma. The significant challenges now facing our University were the subjects of several articles in the January/February issue of the Review and, as evidenced from the response in calls, e-mails and letters, many alumni are concerned that our University’s reputation for excellence in teaching and research in a culture committed to public service may be in jeopardy.
Tar Heel Network Chair Tom Lambeth ’57 and I have hosted breakfasts across the state where we have invited alumni and legislators to suggest priorities for Carolina’s next chancellor. Appropriately, more alumni are asking “what can we do?”
In this election year, we are boldly answering that — beyond your generous personal support, which is more critical now than ever — the voices of all of Carolina’s 220,000 alumni need to be effectively heard. Alumni need to make it clear to every candidate for the N. C. General Assembly and for statewide office that they expect their unwavering support for North Carolina’s most valuable person-made asset — The University of North Carolina.
Candidates can be expected to assert that they have and will always support Carolina. But, as has been seen, in many cases they have not. Faculty and staff salaries and benefits no longer are competitive with our peer institutions. Further, when compared to California, Michigan and Virginia, for several consecutive years UNC’s percentage adjustment in faculty salaries has lagged as much as 3.5 percent behind those states. The consulting firm of Eva Klein and Associates, which examined the entire 16-campus UNC System, reports that $1.14 billion is needed for new buildings and repairs over the next five years on our campus.
Few legislators are excited about funding “repairs and renovations,” yet failure to address this need compounds the problem and discourages the awarding of research contracts, which more than pay for the new facilities and benefit the state’s economy. Without a continuing investment in research facilities, our “best and brightest” will continue to be lured to other institutions.
Ask tough questions, and demand clear answers. Ask incumbents if they supported last summer’s bond proposal. If they say “no,” they favor such indebtedness being voted on by the electorate (and you might agree), also ask whether the public should vote on the nearly $350 million each year that funds SmartStart.
Ask if they would support decoupling UNC faculty salaries from those of other state employees. If they answer “no,” ask why did they think it was appropriate to decouple public school teacher salaries and provide teachers 7 percent raises while University teachers received 3 percent raises. Don’t misunderstand: Our University’s student body is strengthened by the effort to improve North Carolina’s public schools. However, our University’s quality should not be sacrificed to improve the public schools. Ask why, during periods when all state agencies are required to absorb budget cuts, state support for private colleges and universities is not only not cut but increased.
At each of our Tar Heel Network breakfasts, we stress that elected officials do not believe there is a personal cost to them for their not supporting public higher education. They do not believe that those who support their campaigns financially or who vote for them will know or care if they are not supportive of Carolina. They do believe, however, that there is a price to pay for not supporting North Carolina’s public school teachers, private colleges and universities, and business interests.
Yes, we can and must do more on our own behalf. We must raise more private dollars, and without sacrificing our long-held commitment to low tuition, we must increase the contributions from those students and parents who can clearly pay a higher tuition while providing financial aid to those who cannot.
If you are concerned about maintaining UNC’s quality, then in this election year, please make it clear to every legislative candidate that retaining the value of your Carolina diploma is the most important issue for you this year. Make clear that you’ll be watching them closely. No longer can we take it for granted that our elected officials understand that it is in the interest of every North Carolinian, especially every child in North Carolina, that our world-class institution retain its hard earned status.
Yours at Carolina,
Douglas S. Dibbert ’70
