By Eric Johnson ASHEVILLE (March 6, 2025) – The Biltmore Estate is a vast and quirky enterprise, and it takes an incredible range of expertise to keep the place running. As I learned on a recent visit, a lot of that expertise comes from North Carolina’s public colleges and universities. There is always intense debate… READ MORE
Tuition at UNC System schools stays flat for the 9th straight year
RALEIGH (February 27, 2025) – For the ninth straight year, the UNC Board of Governors voted today to hold tuition constant at all 16 UNC System universities. For in-state students. North Carolina’s state constitution includes a provision that says, “The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other… READ MORE
Heather Norris named App State Chancellor
RALEIGH (February 27, 2025) – The UNC Board of Governors named Dr. Heather Norris, who has served as Appalachian State University’s Interim Chancellor since last April, as the university’s permanent Chancellor today. Norris succeeds Sheri Everts, who resigned last year citing health issues after 10 years as the university’s chancellor. Appalachian State has grown dramatically,… READ MORE
Forsyth Tech wins the ‘Heisman’ of community colleges
WINSTON-SALEM (February 26, 2025) – A Forsyth Technical Community College program that starts working with students in middle school to prepare them for college has won what’s known as the Heisman Trophy for community colleges. The College Lift program at Forsyth Tech was named the winner of the Bellwether Award for Instructional Programs and Services… READ MORE
NC makes gains toward 2M by 2030 attainment goal
RALEIGH (February 21, 2025) – North Carolina set an ambitious goal in 2019 to have 2 million citizens ages 25-44 with high-quality credentials or postsecondary degrees by 2030. Several years in – and after a global pandemic and severe flooding in western North Carolina – we’re behind on reaching that goal. But not as behind… READ MORE
Mo Green on the good, bad and ugly in NC schools
RALEIGH (February 19, 2025) – Asked what North Carolina needs to know about public education, State Superintendent Mo Green has a twofold response. While there is absolutely need for improvement, Green says in the accompanying video, the state also has the best high-school graduation rate it’s ever had. It has more students taking and passing… READ MORE
What don’t NC legislators get about public schools?
RALEIGH (February 14, 2025) – What is it that North Carolina’s state legislators don’t get? Polling results from the Public School Forum of North Carolina showed tremendous support among North Carolina voters for our public schools and teachers: •83% – and 65% of conservative Republicans – say pay for public school teachers should be increased…. READ MORE
Art Padilla: Big-time college sports
Separating college athletic programs from the colleges they represent has been considered a capitulation, a surrender, like legalizing drugs because they can’t be controlled. But this may be the only option left. WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH (February 10, 2025) – There are four verities in big-time college sports today. No one—including the inaudible college presidents, coaches, and… READ MORE
Holden Thorp: A ‘ruthless takedown of academia’
By Holden Thorp EDITOR’S NOTE: Former UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Holden Thorp is now Editor-in-Chief of the Science Family of Journals. He posted this yesterday. WASHINGTON (February 11, 2025) – Late last week, the Trump administration set off a frenzy in the US scientific community when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that indirect… READ MORE
UNC-CH trustees: More listening, less talking
RALEIGH (February 12, 2025) – UNC Chapel Hill’s trustees have been warned before. But they obviously didn’t listen. • After repeated bouts of micromanagement and two trustees appearing in pre-arranged interviews with Fox & Friends and The Wall Street Journal to claim credit for establishing the School of Civic Life and Leadership, UNC System President… READ MORE