Chancellor Search
Chancellor Sullivan — Accomplishments
Under her leadership, UNCG carried out its vision statement of becoming “a diverse, student-centered research university, linking the Triad and North Carolina to the world through learning, discovery and service.” Her tenure has been marked by tremendous growth in enrollment, academic programs, research initiatives, diversity among the student body and faculty, endowments and fundraising.
Among the benchmarks, campus progress since 1995 shows:
- 36 percent growth in enrollment, with the student body swelling from 12,644 in fall 1995 to 17,157 last fall. The campus continues as a leader in the UNC system in minority enrollment among predominantly white institutions, underscoring UNCG’s commitment to diversity.
- Through May 2007, almost 33,000 students have earned degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels during Sullivan’s tenure, including 856 who completed doctorates. The total is almost one-third of the 103,340 in total graduates since the institution opened in 1892.
- The university’s research infrastructure grew within academic affairs, including creation of the Office of Research and Public/Private Sector Partnerships, Office of Technology Transfer and Office of Research Compliance.
- Research grants and contracts grew more than 180 percent, from $12.7 million in 1994-95 to $36 million in 2006-07, and research and contract funding from federal, state and foundations has averaged $30 million annually for the past five years.
- Graduate programs grew significantly, including 10 new doctoral programs – nursing, geography, economics, information systems, special education, community health, communication sciences and disorders, history, computational mathematics and medicinal biochemistry – eight master’s programs and 20 graduate certificate programs.
- Major research initiatives include the Gateway University Research Park, the joint millennial campus being created with NC A&T State University; the Guilford Genomic Medicine Initiative being done jointly with Moses Cone Health Systems, the Duke University Human Genetics Programs, and the University of Miami School of Medicine; and more than 15 new research centers.
- International education opportunities have grown substantially. Exchange programs with universities in other countries increased from 13 to 66, and the number of incoming international exchange students grew from 59 to 257. Due to this success, the UNC system placed its system-wide Exchange Program at UNCG.
- Proposed establishment of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering at the South Campus of Gateway University Research Park. This project, being undertaken with NC A&T, has received $59.4 million in funding from the NC General Assembly.
- Endowment holdings almost tripled from $62 million in 1995 to $183 million through June 30, 2007.
- The Students First Campaign is Sullivan’s second fundraising drive at UNCG and has raised $90.7 million through December 31, 2007, toward its $100 million goal. The earlier Second Century Campaign was under way when Sullivan arrived and went on to completion in 1998, raising $55.4 million.
- New undergraduate programs include the Lloyd International Honors College, Communication Across the Curriculum, Grogan College Learning Community and the Office of Undergraduate Research. In only one year, the Lloyd Honors College resulted in an increase of honors freshmen from 90 to 220 (Fall 2006 to Fall 2007). This outstanding program is now endowed with a gift pledge of $4 million.
- In addition to the new doctoral, master’s and certificate programs, other distinctive graduate offerings include genetic counseling, gerontology and conflict management. This expansion of programming was essential in UNCG’s ability to gain Carnegie classification as a Research University with High Research Activity, placing UNCG among other top-tier universities such as Wake Forest, Clemson and Boston College.
- One of Sullivan’s significant achievements was her leadership role in campaigning to promote the $3.1 billion NC Higher Education Bonds referendum, which state voters approved by a 2-to-1 margin in the fall 2000 election. UNCG received $166 million from the bonds for capital projects that included three new buildings and a host of renovation and infrastructure projects. Two projects were completed last fall: the renovation of the Petty Science Building and the Brown Building; and the renovation of Aycock Auditorium will be completed during the spring of 2008. The last project, renovation of the Forney Building, began last fall.
- UNCG has become a clear leader within the UNC System in distance learning through the Division of Continual Learning. UNCG has created cutting-edge online courses, which have won national awards in online learning. Governor Mike Easley was so impressed with UNCG’s online programs that he allocated funds for UNCG to start the state’s virtual early college for high school students.
- Other new facilities that have been completed since her arrival are the new School of Music Building (1999), the Elliott University Center renovation, two parking decks, the Spring Garden streetscape project and numerous improvements to the campus infrastructure. UNCG also partnered with Preservation North Carolina to move and renovate the historic Chancellor’s Residence, which was dedicated in May 2005 as the Jane Harris Armfield-Emily Harris Preyer Admissions and Visitor Center.
- The campus has undergone dramatic changes in facilities and approximately $500 million in new construction and renovation has been added during her years at UNCG. The most visible examples include three structures that opened in fall of 2006 – the Gatewood Studio Arts Building, the Moore Humanities and Research Administration Building, and the Spring Garden Apartments residence hall – and the new Science Building, which opened in 2003.
- Nationally, Sullivan is involved with the American Council on Education, chairing its Commission on Women in Higher Education. Her service to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities includes chairing the task force on mathematics and science enrollments in 2006. She serves on the advisory board of the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES), which administers the Fulbright Scholar Program.
- In the Triad, she serves on the board of the United Way of Greater Greensboro and was chair of the city campaign in 2002. She also serves on the boards of: the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry, Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Creative Leadership, and the Advisory Council of Greater Greensboro Cities in Schools.
- Her awards and honors include: the 2007 Thomas Osborne Distinguished Citizenship Award from the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce; one of 10 recipients of the 2003 Women in Business Awards, presented annually by The Business Journal; 2003 inductee for the Business Leaders Hall of Fame of the Central North Carolina Junior Achievement; and selected as one of “10 People to Watch in 2004” by The Business Journal. In 1999, she received the honorary Doctor of Pedagogy degree from St. John’s University.