It is a wonderfully exciting time to be a part of the UNCG community. As your 10th chancellor, I'm delighted to see an ever-growing network of supporters who believe in the impact of UNCG.

Fundraising is critical to any institution, especially a state university like UNCG. It gives us the confidence and the means to create margins of excellence that will make a defining difference — both for the university and the people we serve.

Friends, alumni and corporate partners, thank you for helping UNCG reach our $100 million campaign goal a full year ahead of time. What a testament to the spirit of collaboration!

The Students First Campaign is not yet complete, however; our commitment continues. As with every campaign, we still have unmet needs that we must not neglect in this last year. Let's join together, renewing our pledge to provide the best possible learning opportunities for our students. Scholarships will be the greatest focus; need-based, merit and unrestricted awards are all critical.

Another major area of need is faculty support. From faculty awards to endowed professorships to startup support for new hires, we must recruit and retain the best — those who understand the importance of protecting our Students First promise while also exploring the frontiers of research and creative activity.