The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees met on Jan. 18 to discuss the future of the School of Civic Life and Leadership, student wellness and the search for the University’s next chancellor.
Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts also attended the meeting and spoke about his vision for the University.
Here’s the rundown.
What's new?
- BOT Chair John Preyer said the inaugural dean of the SCiLL will be announced soon.
- “We will look forward to the launch of the pioneering curriculum designed and led by our world class faculty across many different disciplines, along with new faculty hires as well,” Preyer said. “It will be world class in the Carolina tradition.”
- Preyer discussed UNC-CH’s recent reception of the 2023 Open Inquiry Award for institutional excellence, which he said exemplifies the University’s promotion of free expression on campus.
- “However, speech that encourages violence or that harasses, threatens or deliberately intimidates others should have no place on our campus,” Preyer said. “Carolina should be a sanctuary of civility, where no students or faculty are made to feel afraid because of their views or their religion.”
- Preyer also welcomed Roberts to the University and offered praise of his career and experience.
- Christopher Everett, the student body president, discussed the implementation of an Asian American studies program and hiring of its faculty, campus accessibility and improvement of recreational facilities.
- The College of Arts and Sciences is in the process of hiring three faculty members that specialize in Asian American studies.
- “There's space for all of us and our identities in our curriculum,” Everett said. “And so while we're discussing the implementation of the School of Data Science and Society and the School of Civic Life and Leadership, my hope is that the implementation of an Asian American studies program can join these conversations as another example of a long-awaited academic program.”
- Everett discussed ways to improve campus accessibility, such as elevator maintenance and more first floor wheelchair-accessible dorm rooms on campus.
- Everett said that he, alongside others, have been working on a proposal for a new student wellness center that would bring together organizations on campus to create a hub of resources.
- Lauren Hawkinson, the Graduate and Professional Student Government president, addressed a resolution for student representation on the search advisory committee for the next chancellor.
- The GPSG passed the resolution on Tuesday, urging UNC System president Peter Hans to appoint one current undergraduate student and one current graduate student to the committee.
- “Students' needs, like those of faculty and staff, are tantamount to institutional needs,” Hawkins said. “And we feel that our proposal is the only course of action that will ensure that both recognized student constituencies receive adequate representation in this process.”
- Roberts spoke to the BOT about his vision of UNC-CH as an institution.
- “As a public institution, we have a long history of protest, of argument, of debate and of civil discourse,” he said. “We must continue in this tradition to be a forum for ideas and a place that remembers our most important mission is to educate.”
What’s next?
- The BOT will meet again on March 27 and 28.
