Members of the Faculty Senate packed Stewart Theatre Thursday afternoon to question the new president of the UNC system, who had come to speak to all of them regarding the future.
Before the speech, Provost Larry Nielson and Chancellor James Oblinger both gave short presentations to the rest of the faculty and to Erskine Bowles regarding future projects and plans of the University.
One of the major things on the project list was the Pack Promise, a new initiative set for next fall.
“The Pack Promise will provide full financial aid to needy students who fall 150 percent below the poverty line,” Nielson said.
This was presented along with other projects such as the STEM Initiative, which concentrates on improving the education in the K-12 range and going more in-depth in science, technology, engineering and mathematic studies.
Once these items were presented, Oblinger took the lectern to discuss other things coming up on the budget listing that would help to increase the educational standard on campus.
A biomedical training and educational center, Engineering Complex 3 and accompanying Mann Institute, and a new campus library are three new items on the budget to be constructed on Centennial Campus to expand the academic notoriety of the University and help house the steadily growing engineering programs.
Bowles discussed his ideas and goals for the UNC system and what he believes needs to happen to make the economy more productive.
“We face a crisis — the only solution is you,” Bowles said to the faculty. “If we don’t get more people better educated, we will become a second rate power in no time.”
Bowles expressed his concern over the fact last year the SAT was taken more in the city of Beijing than in all the U.S. combined.
“I am scared for our future and how to compete with them,” Bowles said. “To be more successful, we have to work as a team.”
Among Bowles’ concerns is the increased pressure being placed on the UNC system’s budget. Bowles said he intends to go beyond this problem; he wants to closely collaborate with community colleges to help improve educational standards statewide.
“We are training future leaders of the community,” Bowles said. “And if we don’t have great teachers, we have nothing.”
Bowles said he strongly believes in improving the salaries, retirement plans and benefits of faculty in the UNC system to make it competitive with other educational systems across the country.
“In the first five years of their employment, we lose 50 percent of our new teachers,” Bowles said. “We increasingly have to compete for Ph.D.s on a global level.”
He joked throughout his address, offering anecdotes to explain his major pushes in the legislature. He had a strong southern drawl when describing key political issues — explaining his good ole boy charm with a degree from Columbia University, and experience in federal and state government.
“I’m not an academic, I won’t try to act like I am,” Bowles said. “But you’ll never find someone so excited [about my new position].”
Several members of the faculty voiced their major concerns to the president, including the demoralization of faculty and the belief students and parents just don’t really see the growing problem facing the education system and its graduates.
Bowles said university faculty and staff salaries are a key concern. “The pay is atrocious,” he said.
He also pointed to poor health care and retirement benefits for state employees that are non-competitive.
“If I could, instead of giving this presentation, I would prefer to have just sit and listen to everyone’s concerns,” Bowles said. “I believe that everyone’s concerns are important and that everyone has a voice in the subject matter, especially the students.”
Although the former chief of staff to ex-President Bill Clinton opened the floor up to questions, he did lay out one ground rule.
“As long as you don’t ask me about Monica,” Bowles joked.
Bowles invites anyone with questions or concerns regarding the state of education in the UNC system or at the University to e-mail him at ebowles@northcarolina.edu.
