Chancellor continues to educate community about Connect NC
UNC Charlotte hosted a meeting of the Charlotte Regional Partnership Board of Directors on Jan. 28, where Chancellor Philip L. Dubois delivered a presentation that outlined the economic benefits of the Connect NC bond.
On the March 15 statewide ballot, the bond includes $90 million for science education at UNC Charlotte and a total of $135 million for the Charlotte region. Dubois has said that the funds are critically important to the continued growth of the University and the long-term economic vitality of North Carolina.
In the 15 years since the state’s last major bond referendum, the population of North Carolina has increased by two million citizens, and infrastructure needs across the state have not kept pace, explained Dubois.
“The Connect NC bond will fund pressing needs among UNC system campuses and the state’s community colleges. It also includes improvements to local water and sewer infrastructure, state parks, agribusiness and, the Army National Guard,” Dubois said.
North Carolina’s population growth has resulted in increased enrollment at UNC Charlotte, too.
“This is a critical moment at UNC Charlotte,” said Dubois. “We have outgrown our current science building. Enrollment has increased by 142 percent since it was built and 76 percent since the last bond for high education construction was passed. UNC Charlotte now accounts for 61 percent of the growth of the UNC system between fall 2009 and fall 2015.”
More UNC Charlotte students are pursuing degrees in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics. To prepare them for jobs with the region’s employers, such as Duke Energy and AREVA in the energy sector, Siemens and Sealed Air in advanced manufacturing, Carolinas and Novant in health care and many others, UNC Charlotte must have a new science building, Dubois noted.
Dubois said he and other state leaders see increased momentum for the initiative, especially when North Carolinians learn that no new taxes will be needed to pay for the $2 billion in bonds. Recently, the bipartisan Debt Affordability Advisory Committee reported North Carolina could borrow the full $2 billion without the need to raise taxes. N.C. Treasurer Janet Cowell echoed that message in recent article published in the Triangle Business Journal.
In addition to the Charlotte Regional Partnership board, the chancellor delivered presentations for the Charlotte Chamber Board of Advisors on Jan. 25, and he will be speaking to groups in Gaston and Union counties later this month.
Learn more about the Connect NC bond on the University’s 49er Democracy Experience website.
Photo: Chancellor Dubois with Ronnie Bryant, president and CEO of Charlotte Regional Partnership, and Judy Wishnek, chair of the organization’s Board of Directors and Charlotte regional president, Park Sterling Bank.