UNC Commission Identifies Issues Facing State, Education

Chapel Hill, N.C. — A blue-ribbon commission is studying how to best serve the state when it comes to education.

The UNC Tomorrow Commission's mission is to determine the needs of the state and implement responses to those needs. Jim W. Phillips Jr., chairman of the UNC Board of Governors and a commission member, said it is the university system's responsibility to remain relevant to what is happening in the state.

At its meeting Thursday, the commission looked at statistics suggesting the college-age population is expected to change dramatically in the future, with the majority of the future students coming from minority populations.

The commission also found baby boomers make up most of today's faculty, which could create problems in the future as those professors retire. Commission members also learned job losses in rural counties have been greater than those in urban areas.

As a result, the UNC system will need to accommodate increasing numbers of immigrant, minority and older students, according to the commission. The system will also have an increased stake in the K-12 education, so that students entering the system are prepared.

The commission hopes to finish up its study by December and then present its suggestions to the Board of Governors in the spring.

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The two most important things they need to put back in education is God and our Constitution. Without these two things the rest is going to be hogwash.

tbajr
August 24, 2007 6:38 a.m.

What is meant by more minorities (from what I have heard), is more illegals attending colleges/universities for free.

For taxpayers....it will be too expensive to attend college unless you're willing to pay for your child's and all the freebies' as well.

NoToIllegals
August 24, 2007 5:02 a.m.

My_perogative, that's called "diversity" or, in its simplest form, guilt reparations because affirmative action isn't enough. Get used to diversity, its the "global warming" for higher education and its here to stay as long as tenured liberals clutter our nations universities and colleges.

Pressed Into Action
August 23, 2007 8:02 p.m.

Why are the majority of the students in the future going to college going to be minorities?

Run_Forrest_Run
August 23, 2007 5:20 p.m.

I wonder if something as simple as limiting tenure ever enters the transom of a "blue-ribbon commission" when grooming the next generation of senior level educators. Working at one of the "Big Three", its clear that some plan to work until they die. Great for them, but not so great for fomenting new ideas for the several generations that must follow in their footsteps.

Pressed Into Action
August 23, 2007 4:30 p.m.