Spring 2016 Newsletter

Dear Colleagues:

The end of the academic year is always a great occasion for celebration. Our three spring commencements on May 13-14 saw more than 4,300 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees​, further adding to the ranks of UNC Charlotte alumni. We also celebrated the amazing career achievements of two honorary degree recipients:  Emily Zimmern, recently retired president of the Museum of the New South, and Fannie Flono, former columnist and editorial writer with the Charlotte Observer. And finally, we celebrate the opportunity to take on a new set of challenges over the summer months, but also to work in a little time for rest and reflection.

As the items in this newsletter will attest, we have had another remarkable academic year with continuing enrollment growth, a variety of building and road projects completed or initiated, and dozens of accomplishments by and accolades for our hard-working faculty, staff, and students. We look forward to the arrival of the fall football season, the first opportunity for the 49ers to be "bowl eligible" in the post season. (No pressure, Brad!)

If you would like more information on any item covered in these pages, please contact my senior executive assistant, Shari Dunn, or check the Chancellor's Outbox.

Cordially,

Phil signature

Philip L. Dubois
Chancellor

Margaret Spellings, the new president of the University of North Carolina system, visited UNC Charlotte on March 14 and 15 as a part of a statewide “Listening Tour” during her first 100 days in office.

In addition to touring our facilities and meeting with students, faculty, and staff, President Spellings also used the opportunity to make a final push for the Connect NC bond vote which took place on the second day of her Charlotte visit.




Unless you spent the spring semester stranded on a deserted island, you are certainly aware of the Connect NC bond that was passed by North Carolina voters in March. This $2 billion bond includes $90 million for a much needed new science building here at UNC Charlotte. This was a big win for the University, and for the ever-increasing number of students coming to UNC Charlotte to study in the STEM fields. 




The NC General Assembly convened for the short session on April 25, focusing primarily on budgetary issues.

In preparation for the legislative session, I met with Sen. Bob Rucho, Majority Leader Mike Hager, and Representatives Craig Horn, Rob Bryan, and Dean Arp to discuss UNC Charlotte and the UNC system’s legislative priorities, which include the following:




 

On April 20, I had the privilege of accepting the 2016 World Citizen Award, which is presented annually by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte to citizens and organizations who have enhanced the Charlotte community’s standing in the world.
 




In an organization as massive and complex as UNC Charlotte, success doesn’t happen by accident or wishful thinking. It requires extensive thoughtful and strategic planning.

Author and time management guru Alan Lakein once said, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” With this in mind, we are completing our evaluation of progress on the University’s 2011-2016 Institutional Plan and finalizing our plan for the next five years.




Alumni Craig and Darla Albert have generously committed to expanding the Albert Engineering Leadership Scholars Program which was first established in 2014. The award is designed to invest in superior students who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of academic achievement, leadership, and community engagement.




There’s no shortage of good news coming out of the Academic Affairs area lately. Here are just a few of the highlights:




I am thrilled to announce that UNC Charlotte has a women’s golf team and a coach! Holly Clark was hired in November to start the women’s golf program from scratch, with the intention of debuting her team in 2017. Holly has start-up experience, coming to us from Vanderbilt where she spent six years and served as Associate Head Coach. Before that, she led the Carson Newman Eagles to the 2009 South Atlantic Conference title in her first year and to an NCAA Regional berth in season two.




Charlotte Research Institute Home to New Business Partner Tenants

The Charlotte Research Institute (CRI) on the UNC Charlotte campus offers a nationally competitive research and development environment for our faculty and students and also for corporate partners. GOM Americas and Redecam USA are CRI’s newest business partner tenants, having moved into the PORTAL building in March.




The success of UNC Charlotte is due to its greatest resource – its hardworking and dedicated people.

This year, we will have to weather the loss of a number of key members of the Niner Nation family, and while we are sad to see them leave, we can celebrate together in their accomplishments and in the important role they have played to make UNC Charlotte great.




The creation of the Division of Institutional Integrity will proceed, but first we must find a new Chief of Staff. A national search is underway.  The Division of Institutional Integrity will move forward in 2017 when we will conduct a search for the new vice chancellor to lead that division. The following offices will be located within that division: Legal Affairs, Internal Audit, Compliance, Title IX, and a new office of Enterprise Risk Management.




No campus update would be complete without a status report on the unending list of construction projects: 

Levine Hall, a five-story residence hall, is located near the campus main entrance on University City Boulevard. The 160,000 square-foot facility will house 435 students.
Offices for the University's Honors and Levine Scholars programs will be housed in two floors south of the archway. Program participants will have the opportunity to live in the residence hall. Completion of construction is scheduled for November 2016.­­




The Light Rail Coordinating Committee co-chaired by Beth Hardin, Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs, and Betty Doster, Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Constituent Relations, continues its work to implement a successful launch to light rail in August of 2017. If you have been anywhere on North Tryon Street, you have seen the evidence of the Blue Line Extension. In the last several months a number of major milestones have been achieved and we have the traffic snarls to prove it.




Finally, as I close this spring update, let me note that we are already looking forward to fall, and especially September 23rd. That’s the date marking the 70th anniversary of the first class of students enrolled at the Charlotte Center of the University of North Carolina, an institution that became Charlotte College in 1949 and then UNC Charlotte in 1965. It will truly be a day of celebration.