The goal of the University of North Carolina Tomorrow initiative is to produce a more proactively responsive University, focused on meeting the challenges of the state over the next 20 years. To achieve this goal, the initiative will focus on 3 questions:
- What challenges facing our state do North Carolinians want the University to respond to?
- How can UNC best respond to these challenges?
- How can UNC sustain this focus over the long-term?
Challenges currently facing the state of North Carolina may or may not be unique to your region, so we would like to know what issues you face today and what issues you see coming down the pipeline – to which the University can respond. (We will address questions 2 and 3 at a later date.)
8 comments:
It is great that the UNC Administration has taken the initiative to begin this process. We all know what wonderful services the University has provided to the state of NC in the past, but this effort will allow the UNC System to take the next step in meeting the needs of our state.
The University System has been and should continue to be one of the greatest agents for innovation in education, industry, technology, and business. Forming the UNC Tomorrow Commission to look into the needs of NC and its citizens is only the beginning of a great relationship with renewed vigor between the University and its constituents, all the people of NC.
I, along with many others in the state, am looking forward to great recommendations and RESULTS from this intiative.
There is no doubt that the role of the university in economic development is changing across the nation. We are holding the university system to a higher caliber these days, and it is imperative that we maximize the State of North Carolina's economic competitive advantage.
This is why I am thrilled to know about the UNC Tomorrow initiative. It is an excellent strategy for the university system to use its vast resources of talent and knowledge to boost economic development. I'd like to see a system-wide infrastructure of sorts for workforce development, which will be a big issue for NC's future as we face an aging, and changing demographic.
Kudos to the UNC Tomorrow team!
I have to agree with Will on one major thing: RESULTS. It seems like all too often there is study after study and commission after commission that come up with grand ideas that end up collecting dust.
In terms of workforce development, I think we need to be putting a greater emphasis on collaborating with the community college system on technical -skill jobs. I think the University is great but I have to admit I'm a little worried that as a whole, society has placed too much emphasis on the idea of obtaining a university degree and not a technical degree, with which a person can be just as successful.
I finally want to mention cost. I don't specifically mean tuition, but it always comes back to that. I appreciate President Bowles' business touch on the University. North Carolina has a great history of running a high quality University. As we see costs for running such a university increase, we have to be aware of the impact that has on the budget and in turn taxpayers and tuition bill payers.
I look forward to the great debate that could take place on this blog as the Commission develops ideas and proposals.
I'm terribly concerned about the direction being taken by the UNC System. The "needs of the state" are represented as monolithic. It is assumed that economic development is synonymous with equity in wealth distribution, when all data show, economic development as currently defined results in the accumulation of wealth among the top quintile of the population.
Clearly, there are competing interests, and university leaders have failed to acknowledge that the issues being addressed are highly contested.
There is no such thing as the "needs of the state". Many of our needs are mutually exclusive, and any attempt to decide whose needs should be met MUST be democratically planned.
Unfortunately, it is assumed that economic development is a goal of the university system, even within a cultural political economy that is decidedly unjust.
North Carolina's universities are institutionalizing neoliberal political economy at the expense of distributive justice.
The University system has a great history of research with benefits in economic development throughout the state. This is the University's strength and should be built upon. The NC Arboretum is an excellent example - it is part of the UNC System. Along with educating K-12 and the rest of us about plants and the environment, it promotes economic development through Biotech research, alternative crop development, climate research, and tourism. It is also important to all the employees in the horticulture and landscape industry. It offers certification programs for landscape contractors, and demonstrates critical stormwater management techniques for developers who build on steep slopes. Its not just a place to look at flowers. HOWEVER, these programs are all struggling. The Arboretum is so poorly funded the garden displays that attract visitors (upon whom the arboretum relies for funds) lack the staff to keep them weeded! They have beautiful buildings because the dollars can be extracted from the state for infrastructure, but within those buildings, the programs are severely strapped for funds. This is one example of a UNC institution that is already in place, and has tremendous potential to do more. Huge investments have been made already in many UNC institutions. Lets make them stronger so they can achieve the worthwhile missions for which they were conceived.
Our country needs all the help it can get to reduce energy consumption and manage environmental degredation. We need more engineers working on these problems, and more engineering research at UNC schools. Distance education at UNC-A's engineering program is working beautifully - churning out smart students who are mostly staying in North Carolina. Lets grow that program, and others like it. We know the demand for energy reduction solutions is there. The UNC System already is a national leader in engineering. Lets push further in areas where we are already strong.
I second the comment about our state's engineering programs meeting critical challenges for the future. Energy, transportation, environment - all benefit by investment in new directions throught engineered solutions. I have witnessed firsthand how UNC System Distance Education has brought excellent engineering eductaion to many across the state. Yet another example of efficient use of resources.
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