The UNC System Board of Governors met on Thursday to discuss non-resident tuition increases, a report on educational planning and policies in civic education, and new UNC System initiatives to reduce the negative impacts of social media on students. The board also awarded Kuldeep Rawat and Michael R. Smith with the 2023 Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for excellence in public service.
Here’s the rundown.
What’s new?
- The board approved a motion to maintain in-state tuition at the same amount and to increase the 2024-25 non-resident tuition for undergraduate and graduate or professional students.
- Chair Randy Ramsey discussed the university system’s eighth consecutive year of no tuition increase for residents of North Carolina.
- “This is a very significant milestone and one that helps uphold our constitutional commitment to make higher education affordable for all North Carolinians,” Ramsey said.
- Chair Randy Ramsey discussed the university system’s eighth consecutive year of no tuition increase for residents of North Carolina.
- UNC System President Peter Hans presented an update on plans to “block the most destructive media apps from UNC infrastructure” in order to reduce the negative mental health impacts of smartphones and addictive apps on UNC students.
- Hans discussed the polarization of social media on students and presented a plan that is being drawn up by the university’s legal and IT teams to block smaller, hyper-local platforms that have shown a “reckless disregard for young people and an outright indifference to bullying and bad behavior,” Hans said. These platforms include Yik Yak, Fizz, Whisper and Side Chat.
- Concerns about these platforms were brought to the board’s attention by a group of student body presidents across UNC System campuses, Hans said.
- Blocking these platforms continues the University’s agenda of creating a healthier relationship between UNC students and technology. These platforms operate within a 5-mile radius of UNC’s campus.
- “They turn a blind eye to everything, from sexual harassment, to racial insults, to drug dealing,” Hans said.
- Hans said the university’s mission is to help students achieve satisfying and meaningful lives and to equip them with a toolset so they can succeed as citizens in a democracy.
- The BOG Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs presented its report on faculty interest in college-level civics education and “academic freedom” across the UNC system.
- “Working together to leverage our talents, expertise and opportunities in service to our students and stakeholders — what could be more foundational than that?” Wade Maki, UNC Greensboro faculty assembly & director, said.
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The Committee on Audit, Risk Management, and Compliance discussed the updated regulations on cybersecurity at the university.
- “These regulations will impact several compliance areas including export controls, international travel, standard disclosure requirements, and cyber security,” committee member Terry Hutchins said.
- A conference will be held on May 6 by North Carolina State University and UNC-Chapel Hill that will focus on a risk-based approach to increasing security and control of technology and intellectual property.
- The 2023 Gov. James E. Holshouser, Jr. Award, which recognizes faculty within the university system who exemplified excellence in public service, was awarded to Kuldeep Rawat, dean at Elizabeth City State University's School of Science, Aviation, Health, and Technology, and Michael R. Smith, who was dean of the UNC School of Government from 2001 to 2023.
- During Rawat’s 19-year tenure at ECSU, he has combined teaching and public service to meet regional needs through outreach programs such as his work on the NASA Aerospace Academy program, and a mobile STEM lab program that connects and brings opportunities in STEM to K-12 students who are from some of North Carolina’s most underserved school districts.
- “We're immensely proud and grateful for all you have done to improve the lives of others and to make North Carolina a better place to live, learn, and work,” UNC System President Peter Hans said.
- Smith has spent his career serving the citizens of North Carolina at a state and local level for over 35 years. Smith helped launch the Carolina Across 100 Initiative, which aims to help North Carolina citizens who are struggling or in need.
- “He is a model of selfless non-partisan public service,” Hans said. “He understands on a bone-deep level that this university belongs to all North Carolinians and we must use our research and scholarships to benefit citizens.”
The board will meet again on April 17.
