April 2026 Board of Trustees Summary

May 4, 2026
Categories: General News
Aerial of Woodward Building and campus

The UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees met on Wednesday, April 29. Below is a summary of the reports shared with the board and actions taken by the board.

Please note: No business conducted in closed session is included in this report.

Reports Shared with the Board

Chancellor’s Report

Chancellor Sharon Gaber shared updates aligned to five focus areas.

Campus Celebrations and News

  • Student success and institutional excellence: UNC Charlotte will confer nearly 5,800 degrees this spring. Additionally, the University recently bestowed a series of faculty, staff and alumni honors that reflect the University’s growing talent and impact.
  • Anchoring major international event: The University will serve as a primary venue for the 2027 Military World Games, hosting approximately 76% of Charlotte-based activities and positioning campus as the central hub for athletes and operations.

Fundraising Efforts

  • Campaign momentum surpasses $400 million: “For the Love of Charlotte” continues to exceed expectations, driven by major naming gifts and strong donor engagement across the University.
  • Record-setting giving reflects broad support: Niner Nation Gives raised more than $5.3 million from over 7,600 gifts, marking the most successful campaign in its history, alongside continued momentum from signature events such as the Let Me Play Luncheon.

Research News

  • Research partnerships and advocacy expand institutional impact: Engagement with federal and state leaders, including campus visits, elected officials briefings and meetings in Washington, D.C., continues to elevate UNC Charlotte’s research profile and advance priorities such as the NSF Engines proposal.

Legislative Update

  • Enrollment funding remains top system priority: As the General Assembly session begins, the UNC System’s legislative focus centers on enrollment funding, with cautious optimism around budget passage.

Reputation Building

  • Graduate rankings reinforce national momentum: Thirty-one UNC Charlotte graduate programs are now ranked in the U.S. News Top 100, reflecting continued progress in academic reputation.
  • Project 50/30 accelerates path to Top 50 public status: In partnership with Red Ventures, the initiative focuses on increasing applications, improving student success and strengthening data-driven recruitment and marketing efforts.
  • Affordability pressures highlight funding challenges: While tuition has remained flat over the last decade, inflation has reduced its purchasing power by approximately 25%, underscoring the gap between revenue and the cost of delivering a high-quality education.

Brand Elevation on a National and International Stage

  • Motorsports partnership “drives” enrollment impact: UNC Charlotte’s continued collaboration with motorsports alumnus Layne Riggs has generated more than one million impressions through national exposure, with a targeted enrollment campaign for Motorsports Engineering producing over six million impressions and contributing to student interest and recruitment.
  • Unique global reach: A first-of-its-kind collaboration with Arsenal FC provided School of Data Science students the opportunity to work directly with the club’s analytics team and present their work in London, elevating both the University’s global reputation and hands-on learning opportunities.
  • “Smellvis”draws attention to rare research: UNC Charlotte is one of only a few dozen U.S. institutions to maintain Titan Arum specimens. The recent bloom of “Smellvis,” a rare, short-lived event known for its striking size and distinctive, unpleasant odor, highlights the University’s role in conservation, research and community engagement.

Strategic Plan

Chancellor Gaber also presented “The Charlotte Difference: A Plan for National Distinction, 2026–2031,” the University’s refreshed strategic plan for board approval. 

Among the highlights of the new plan that were shared were: 

  • Refresh builds on momentum with a focused roadmap: The plan reflects progress under “Shaping What’s Next,” including achieving R1 designation ahead of schedule, and is informed by input from nearly 3,300 stakeholders, advancing four priorities: student success, research growth, regional impact and national distinction.
  • Student success strategy emphasizes access and outcomes: Goals include expanding internship access (target 80%), improving retention and graduation rates and growing online and graduate programs aligned with workforce and AI-driven skills.
  • Research and regional impact positioned for growth: Investments in talent, infrastructure and partnerships will expand research capacity while strengthening economic development, workforce pipelines and community impact across North Carolina and beyond.
  • Top 50 ambition drives institutional alignment: Strategic growth in programs, research and philanthropy supports the goal of becoming a Top 50 public university.
  • Clear metrics establish accountability for progress: Targets include 35,000 enrollment, 74% six-year graduation rate, $102 million in research expenditures and $125 million in annual fundraising, alongside expanded measures for internships, online growth and alumni engagement.

Advancement and Public Relations Committee

  • Legislative and external environment update provided: The committee received an overview of state and federal budget timelines, UNC System enrollment trends and the University’s current appropriations priorities.
  • Campaign progress reflects continued fundraising momentum: “For the Love of Charlotte” has raised $63.7 million toward its $75 million FY26 goal and $405 million toward its $500 million campaign goal. Niner Nation Gives also surpassed its target by raising more than $5.28 million, including significant growth in Athletics fundraising. 

Finance and Physical Properties Committee

  • All Funds Budget advanced for board approval: The committee reviewed the University’s financial position and recommended approval of the FY2026–27 All Funds Budget.
  • Key capital and infrastructure items approved: The committee approved revisions to the 2026–27 Parking Ordinance, a project authorization for parking deck restorations and an increased authorization for Friday classroom renovations.
  • Financial and operational updates reviewed: The committee received updates on the University’s financial health, transportation policies, capital improvement projects and designer selections approved through delegated authority.

Audit, Compliance and Enterprise Risk Management Committee

  • Internal audit plan updated with no high-risk findings: The committee received an update on the FY26 Internal Audit Plan and recent audit reports, with no high-risk findings identified, and approved the proposed FY27 Internal Audit Plan without objection.
  • Compliance efforts focus on digital accessibility implementation: A year-end update highlighted ongoing coordination across campus and the UNC System, with the upcoming compliance priority centered on implementing new Department of Justice Digital Accessibility Rules, focusing on high-impact assets such as public-facing websites, instructional materials and core systems.

Academic and Student Life Committee

  • Athletics update highlights performance and academic success: New Athletics Director Kevin White shared updates on national athletics developments, spring team performance, strong academic outcomes for student-athletes and record-setting participation in Niner Nation Gives.
  • Student feedback drives continuous improvement: The committee reviewed how student input is systematically collected and used to inform advising, programming and broader student experience enhancements across the University.
  • Online business program shows rapid growth and partnership model: The new online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program, launched in Spring 2025, has seen a 566% increase in enrollment and reflects a collaborative approach between the Belk College of Business and the School of Professional Studies.
  • ROTC program emphasizes leadership development and access: The committee received an overview of Army ROTC, highlighting its role in developing student leaders and providing scholarship opportunities without requiring an immediate military commitment.

Executive Committee

  • Committee took action on key leadership appointments: The Executive Committee met in February and March to approve time-sensitive actions, including authorizing the Chancellor to negotiate a contract with Kevin White as athletics director and approving Wes Miller’s contract as head men’s basketball coach.
  • Board self-assessment process underway: In accordance with UNC System policy, the board will complete its required four-year self-assessment this year, with an internally administered survey and results to be reviewed at the August retreat.
  • Officer nomination process initiated for upcoming year: The nominating committee outlined the process and timeline for developing a slate of officers, with opportunities for trustee input ahead of the July organizational meeting.
  • Academic and policy items approved: The committee approved revisions to University Policy 102.13 (Tenure Policies, Regulations and Procedures) and the establishment of three distinguished professorships, including two Klein Distinguished Professorships and the Celanese Acetate Distinguished Professorship of Chemistry.

Faculty Council

  • Faculty governance focused on academic policy updates: Work this year included academic freedom, academic standing, accreditation, curriculum approvals and syllabus guidance.
  • Committee structure and elections in progress: The Council reported 22 active committees and ongoing coordination of leadership elections.
  • Next year’s priorities under development: Planning is underway to define goals and focus areas for the upcoming academic year.

Staff Council

  • Peer recognition program highlights staff contributions: Staff Council showcased the “Golden Nuggets” program, a peer-nominated recognition initiative that has honored more than 150 staff members this academic year for going above and beyond in service to the University.

Student Government Association 

  • Gratitude for outgoing president: Earlier in the meeting, Board Chair Dontá Wilson thanked outgoing SGA President Isaiah Grayson for his two years of service to the board. 
  • New president sworn in: Madison Brown, 2026-2027 SGA president, was sworn in as a member of the board. Her first report included:
    • New administration and leadership structure established: The Brown-Hensler administration has taken office, with new senators, class presidents, cabinet members and a chief justice appointed across all branches of student government.
    • Record voter turnout highlights strong student engagement: More than 3,600 ballots were cast in the recent election, the most in school history.
    • Student priorities focus on campus experience and support: Brown outlined key advocacy areas for the new year including parking, dining, light rail safety, mental health resources and FAFSA clarity, along with efforts to improve transparency in student organization processes.

Additional Reports to the Board

Men’s Basketball

  • A new era in men’s basketball: Wes Miller was formally introduced to the board as the new men’s basketball head coach. He emphasized a commitment to developing student-athletes as strong individuals while building a competitive, championship program.

Enrollment Update

Claire Kirby, associate provost for enrollment management, provided an update to the board. 

  • Demographic shifts create both challenge and opportunity: While the national student pipeline has peaked, North Carolina faces a more gradual decline, with Charlotte’s population growth providing a competitive advantage.
  • First-year pipeline remains stable with positive yield signals: Applications and admits are up, intent to enroll is steady and deposits and FAFSA completions are trending positively.
  • Transfer enrollment shows strong growth momentum: Deposits are up 8% and orientation reservations have increased by 51%, highlighting a key opportunity area.
  • Online programs support enrollment growth strategy: Admits to online programs are up, reinforcing expansion of flexible, market-responsive pathways.
  • Graduate enrollment grows in key areas amid emerging pressures: Gains in domestic and online enrollment, particularly in high-demand fields, are offset by challenges including federal lending changes, declining international enrollment and increased competition.
  • Graduate program rankings reinforce academic momentum: UNC Charlotte now has 31 graduate programs ranked in the U.S. News Top 100.  

Actions Taken by the Board