The UNC System

By Jeanne Bonds, political analyst and NC SPIN panelist.

My upfront disclaimer: I am a rabid supporter of one of our State's greatest and oldest assets - the University of NC System, UNC. I am a proud alumnae of UNC at Chapel Hill but I not only believe in Carolina, I also believe in the mission of each and every member institution and their importance to our state economically, educationally and as a partner in shaping society in general. UNC Chapel Hill is proudly the first public university in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century. But each constituent institution is vital to its community as an economic engine, labor supplier, idea generator and partner in regional success.

The UNC Board of Governors is the policy-making body legally charged with "the general determination, control, supervision, management, and governance of all affairs of the constituent institutions." The constituent institutions are the 16 public higher education universities in the system plus the NC School of Science of Mathematics.  The 32 voting members of the Board of Governors are elected by the General Assembly for four-year terms. Special members are non-voting members with varying terms. Such members are former chairs of the board, former governors, and the president of the UNC Association of Student Governments, or that student's designee. But let's focus on the 32 members of which The NC Senate appoints 16 members and the House 16 members.

We have a large state that is growing more diverse by the year. Each constituent university is located in a different geographical area, in a different community, serves a different population based on its programs of study and pool of applicants, engages a diverse population of supporters, partners and collaborators. From my count, of the current members of the Board, there are eight higher education member institutions represented by degrees. And there is a dominance of graduates from UNC Chapel Hill from among those individuals. There is not a tremendous diversity in age, gender, race or institution of higher learning.

I know, I know. With a substantial appropriation from the NCGA to UNC, the NCGA wants to fund UNC and control it with their "own" folks. Traditional thinking by both political parties. But does that really result in the best governance of such a vital asset to the people of NC? Do we really get the best, brightest, out-of-the box thinking for one of the top University systems in the United States? Are we at risk of falling behind with old, traditional thinking?

The UNC Board of Governors is working on a five-year strategy for the university system. The report calls for more accountability in using classroom space, improving the four and five-year graduation rates, tuition, admissions. Should this Board really be representative of all the Institutions it leads so that its strategy considers geographical, institutional diversity? Should this Board be representative of the people of NC?  Or should it continue to be an exercise in political prowess?

If we want to make the best decisions for the entire system, best serve all the people of NC, consider a range of intellectual, executive and world views about the future of this asset, we will look at ways to diversify this Board. Different views by generation, gender, race, geography and politically will ensure a system that serves people not politics or political institutions.

It's time to consider a new method. Perhaps, one representative elected by each constituent institution Board of Trustees which will provide 17 of the members with the remaining 15 appointed by: five from the House, five from the Senate and five from the Governor with the Governor, by virtue of election by all the people, assuming the leadership responsibility for ensuring his/her appointments fully round out the diversity needed.

We have a responsibility to protect the value of this asset, the historical and future relevance of this asset and to actually serve the people with programs and studies that improve society through the pursuit of higher learning. Time to protect one of our greatest assets from the ridiculousness of political gerrymandering.