UNC CHARLOTTE |
c h a n ce l l o r ’s l e tte r
Connect NC Bond funds science education; vote March 15
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"For UNC Charlotte, there is definitely a sense of urgency concerning this bond initiative."
ne of my top priorities for the first quarter of 2016 will be educating the university community and the Charlotte region about the Connect NC bond proposal. The proposed bond measure includes $2 billion for UNC system campuses, community colleges, public safety, water and sewer grants, state parks, and agriculture. UNC Charlotte’s interest in the bond measure is a proposed $90 million science facility that is crucial to ensuring our continuing ability to respond to ever-increasing demand for enrollment among well-qualified freshmen and transfer students. We welcomed Gov. Pat McCrory and several other statewide leaders to campus in October for a ceremonial signing of the Connect NC bond bill that now goes to the public for a statewide vote on March 15. The governor had previously visited campus last April as he was launching the public conversation about the need for a major statewide bond measure. A large crowd packed the atrium of the PORTAL building and included members of the North Carolina General Assembly, local elected officials, members of the Boards of Trustees of sister UNC campuses, representatives from the UNC Board of Governors, faculty, staff and students. Students from the Charlotte Engineering Early College (the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ magnet high school located on our campus) attended the ceremony to help reinforce the message that the future of science education must continue to be supported in our region. In November, I began traveling across the Charlotte region touting the benefits of the bond package, joining Rowan-Cabarrus Community College President Carol Spalding before the RCCC Boards of Trustees and Foundation, local elected officials, and community supporters. Next stops include Gastonia, Mooresville, Monroe, and Charlotte. Investments in the Charlotte region include $40 million for seven community colleges and funding for improvements at three popular state parks: Crowder’s Mountain, Morrow Mountain, and Lake Norman State Park. For UNC Charlotte, there is definitely a sense of urgency concerning this bond initiative. Enrollment at UNC Charlotte has grown by 142 percent since the current science building (Burson) was built in 1985. UNC Charlotte accounts for more than 61 percent of the enrollment growth in the entire UNC system from the fall of 2009 to the fall of 2015. More than 50 percent of our students with declared majors are in STEM-related fields, and 15,000 students take laboratory courses each year. The new science facility is crucial to ensuring continued growth and to meet strong demand for talent by Charlotte region employers. The business case for the bond package is straightforward and strong: NO tax increase is needed to pay for the bonds, the debt service level is below the recommended amount to maintain the state’s triple-A bond rating, interest rates are at historic lows, and the costs of construction will surely be less today than tomorrow.
What can you do? First, learn more about the Connect NC Bond. Two websites have been created by outside entities to provide resources and detailed information about the bond. Visit www.connect.nc.gov to learn more about the bond legislation and funding allocations proposed for specific projects. You can also check out www.ConnectNCForHigherEd.com for advocacy information and www.democracyexperience.uncc. edu/connect-nc-bond for information from UNC Charlotte. Next, be sure to register to vote or to update your voter registration. Third, take note of key election dates for the March presidential primary and bond vote: • Absentee voting began – January 25 • Last day to register to vote – February 19 • Early Voting – March 3-12 • Election Day – March 15 Finally, make sure you vote!
Philip L. Dubois Chancellor 2
UNC CHARLOTTE magazine
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Winter/Spring 2016
www.UNCC.edu