By Mike Harris , University Relations
Chancellor Linda P. Brady delivers the annual State of the Campus Address Aug. 19.
Contact: (336) 334-5371
Posted 8-19-09
GREENSBORO — “These are challenging days,” Chancellor Linda P. Brady told the campus community gathered to hear her State of the Campus Address in Aycock Auditorium. How UNCG has moved forward and will continue to do so in the midst of a deep recession was a central focus.
She reflected on her first address as chancellor, a year ago at this time. “Little did any of us know that we would be facing the most serious economic crisis of our lives – a crisis that has forced us to clarify what is truly important in our lives and in our institutions.”
“It was a year marked by uncertainty and a difficult and constantly changing budget situation,” she said. It was a year marked by significant contributions by faculty, staff and students to the campus, and to the Greensboro community. She cited several examples of national recognition and accolades.
“This also was a year marked by ambitious steps toward the future through our response to UNC Tomorrow and the development of UNCG’s Strategic Plan for 2009-14,” she said.
The budget situation was top of mind for many in the audience. “Last Friday, the UNC Board of Governors approved the budget for the University of North Carolina system for 2009-10,” she noted. “As you know, the 2009 General Assembly made a number of reductions to the university’s base budget. The reductions assigned to UNCG total $5,777,885, or approximately 3.4 percent of our state-appropriated budget for 2009-10,” she said. She added, “We also should expect additional reversions of up to 5 percent in 2009-10.”
Brady responds to a question from the audience gathered in Aycock Auditorium.
She noted several positives among the adverse budget news. For example, the General Assembly fully funded the UNC system Board of Governors’ request for enrollment change funds in 2009-10 and 2010-11. The budget included the campus-initiated tuition increases requested by system campuses for 2009-10. UNCG and North Carolina A&T received $1 million in recurring funds for the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering. And the General Assembly increased the University of North Carolina system’s allocation of repair and renovation funds. “But make no mistake about it – this will be a very difficult year for UNCG,” she said.
Faculty and staff will feel the impact in increased workloads as a result of personnel reductions across the university, she said. “Working together we will rise to the challenge,” she added.
“Within the next two to three weeks, after we have received feedback from UNC General Administration on our plan, we will implement cuts of 10 percent, per direction from [UNC system] President Bowles, taking into account both permanent cuts and one-time reversions, and consistent with the budget principles posted on our web site.
“This will be extremely difficult as we face record enrollment for the fall semester. As of early this week, UNCG expects to welcome more than 2,600 first-time freshmen and 1,500 transfer students. These numbers represent record enrollments.”
The chancellor noted that the UNCG Board of Trustees had approved the Strategic Housing Plan on Aug. 17. “When the Board of Trustees meets on Sept. 10, I will present several recommendations regarding implementation of Phase I of the Strategic Housing Plan. These recommendations will address the future of the Quad as well as additional projects on the core campus and in a new neighborhood,” she said.
