SCOPING OUT MRS. SPELLINGS

Now that Chairman Fennebresque has revealed former Education Secretary Mrs. Spellings as his candidate for UNC President, let’s talk about her. First, she can be tough. And reforming higher education against the will of entrenched interest groups is very hard. As a lobbyist for Texas School Boards and adviser to Governor George Bush, the teacher’s union slammed her as the … Read More

UNC AND SOCIAL SECURITY

News reports say there will be no Social Security cost of living increase this year because of low inflation. But the UNC System is raising tuition 3.8% when Social Security is flat because inflation is flat. Did UNC raise tuition because the Legislature cut funding? No. The state appropriation is increasing $117 million or 4.4% comparing this year to last … Read More

$300,000 BUYING UNC AN IOWA BIBLE BANNER?

The News and Observer reported today that Chairman Fennebresque and the UNC Board of Governors lobbied hard for a double-super-secret search process. Now we know why. The Raleigh rumor mill says Iowa State University President Steven Leath is a finalist to assume the helm at UNC, a candidate unearthed by the Board of Governor’s $300,000 headhunter John Isaacson. And once … Read More

Dealing from the Wrong Deck (Part 1)

Years of tuition increases, academic scandals, and pushing PC social agendas instead of focusing on educating our state’s children are catching up to the University of North Carolina system. The university system desperately needs a good deal and a strong hand to play as it searches for a new president. While waiting patiently for current UNC President Tom Ross to … Read More

NEXT UNC PRESIDENT SHOULD FOCUS ON STUDENTS, NOT POLITICS

As the Board of Governor’s at UNC hires a new President, they should ask themselves what higher education is all about. Is it about preparing students for meaningful careers or is it about liberal politics? There is no better example of wasteful, politically correct politics trumping education than the UNC Law School’s Center for Civil Rights. As a branch of … Read More

UNC-PC?

One of the saddest economic statistics around says nearly half of recent college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed in a job that doesn’t require a college education. Combined with trillions in student loan debt, it’s a big reason why America’s economy doesn’t perform anymore. Clearly, higher education needs reform to cut tuition prices, focus on key priorities and channel … Read More

NEW UNC PRESIDENT MUST CUT BLOAT

Last year, the Daily Tar Heel reported a mind boggling finding from the Program Evaluation Division that UNC has one administrator for every 3.5 students. (Daily Tar Heel) With bloat like that, is it any wonder tuition goes up and up? And in a massive understatement, the paper wrote “They could do more in terms of reducing campus operational staff,” … Read More

UNC DIVERSITY RACKET

Carolina Journal recently pointed out that 13% of the employees in the UNC System are paid 6 figure salaries. Are we talking about world class doctors or scientists? Not necessarily. Carolina Journal reported “UNC-Chapel Hill’s Chief Diversity Officer, Taffye Benson Clayton, earns $195,000 per year, or 38 percent more than Gov. Pat McCrory. Clayton heads the university’s Office of Diversity … Read More

BAD MATH AND THE RETURN OF THE DEMOCRATS

According to the News and Observer, the State House is considering a budget that increases General Fund spending $1.3 billion next year or 6.3%. Defending the 6.3% spending increase – the biggest since Chapel Hill Democrat Joe Hackney was Speaker of the House and Mike Easley was Governor – a Republican budget writer declared it in line with inflation and … Read More