UNC System Board of Governors Highlights April 2026
The UNC System Board of Governors (BOG) convened in regular session on April 16, 2026. Below is a summary of the reports shared with the board and actions taken by the board.
Committee on Budget and Finance
- Debt Capacity and Capital Funding: The committee approved the FY 2025 UNC System Debt Capacity Study and allocation of $55 million in remaining State Capital and Infrastructure Funds (SCIF).
- Capital Project Authorizations: The committee approved multiple capital actions, including seven new capital projects, six self-liquidating debt projects totaling approximately $637 million and revisions to Engineering NC’s Future projects at NC State.
- Capital Reporting: Trustees received the FY 2025 Debt Capacity Study and the UNC Quarterly Capital Projects Report.
Joint Committee on Budget and Finance and External Affairs
- State Budget Priorities: The joint committee approved 2026 Short Session legislative priorities focused on enrollment funding, building reserves and continued support for SCIF repairs and renovations. Chancellors Sharon Gaber and Chancellor Kelli Brown were invited to discuss the importance of enrollment funding for their campuses.
- Charlotte’s Enrollment Funding: Gaber emphasized the following about enrollment funding at UNC Charlotte:
- Affordability and Access: UNC Charlotte continues to enroll more North Carolina students, despite rising costs, underscoring the critical role of state enrollment funding in sustaining access.
- Workforce and Capacity: Enrollment funding directly supports high-demand fields such as engineering and nursing, where UNC Charlotte is expanding enrollment to meet statewide workforce gaps, but continued growth without funding increases strain on faculty capacity and limits program expansion.
- Charlotte’s Enrollment Funding: Gaber emphasized the following about enrollment funding at UNC Charlotte:
- Capital Improvement Planning: Trustees approved requests for six self-liquidating capital projects totaling approximately $637 million.
- Legislative Policy Updates: The committee approved policy considerations including increasing capital thresholds and expanding construction management flexibility.
- Federal Priorities: Trustees approved continued advocacy for Pell Grants, Federal Work-Study, HBCUs/MSIs and federal research funding.
Committee on University Personnel
- Faculty Recruitment and Retention: The committee received a report on use of the Faculty Recruitment and Retention Fund.
- Policy Revisions: The committee approved revisions to policy governing official residences.
Committee on University Governance
- Board Appointments: The committee approved appointments to the NC School of Science and Mathematics Board of Trustees and ECU Health Medical Center Board of Trustees.
Committee on Educational Planning, Policies, and Programs
- Student Leadership Transition: The committee recognized outgoing ASG President Javier Limon, UNC Chapel Hill, and introduced incoming President Rushil Sachania, East Carolina University.
- Healthcare Workforce and Medical Education: Trustees received a presentation from UNC Wilmington on a proposed stand-alone medical school.
- Academic Affairs Initiatives: The committee received updates on UNC System artificial intelligence efforts and civil discourse initiatives.
- Rural Health Workforce: Trustees reviewed efforts to strengthen the rural physician pipeline.
- Workforce Alignment: The committee received the inaugural Workforce Alignment Report linking academic programs to labor market demand.
Note: Any business conducted by the Board of Governors in closed session is not included in this summary.