Three with Lee
Chancellor Lee H. Roberts answers questions about research funding, diversity programs and tuition rates.
As part of a new series in The Well, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts addresses three topics of importance to the Carolina community.
Q: This year started with several executive orders that will impact higher education institutions, particularly the order on federal funding of research. Can you share how the University is addressing this situation?
A: It’s an uncertain and unsettling time in many ways, and there’s a lot that we are still learning. I appreciate the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and all they’ve done with messaging, office hours and meetings on the topics. Our highest priority is advocating for Carolina, our mission, and for federal research funding with our stakeholders.
We are not alone in this fight, and there’s a broad understanding at the legislative level on the importance of federal research funding. I’m working with our UNC System Office, APLU, AAU and the UNC System schools to advocate as effectively and as consistently as we can. The University has been through all kinds of crises in the last 231 years, and it has always emerged stronger. I have absolute faith and confidence that will continue to be the case. We have tremendous resources and strengths, and I couldn’t be more optimistic about the University’s future and our mission.
Q: How does the University plan to address the executive order related to our diversity-related curriculum and programs?
A: As a result of our actions after the Students for Fair Admissions Supreme Court decision and the Board of Governors equality policy that we implemented last summer, we believe that we are broadly in compliance already. However, the Department of Education will be providing some additional guidance that we’re interested in seeing.
Q: Let’s talk tuition rates. How do we compare against our peers – and how has the state invested in the University to keep costs low for students?
A: In looking at our peers, both formal and informal, we have the second lowest undergraduate resident tuition at $9,003. Earlier this year, the UNC Board of Governors agreed to hold tuition flat for the ninth consecutive year. That means it’s gone down, in real terms, by about 20% over the last nine years.
But, if you compare our core operational revenue, which is tuition and fees plus state appropriations, we’re above many of our peers. I find that remarkable — and it shows an exceptional level of state support for the UNC System and our University. Our state’s investment allows us to maintain exceptionally low tuition but still have operational revenue near the top of our peer group, and for that we are grateful.
