Governor’s Recommended Budget
The governor’s budget is the first step in a long legislative process, expected to be finalized in mid-summer. Historically, legislators have crafted their own budget based on priorities.
The governor’s recommended budget includes the following highlights:
- Fully funds enrollment growth for the UNC system. This remains a top priority for UNC Charlotte as the fastest-growing university in the 17-campus system. This amounts to $18.4 million for UNC Charlotte in the coming academic year.
- Funds in-state tuition for military veterans.
- Provides funds for creation of the University Innovation Commercialization Grant Program, designed to stimulate increased output in translation of research to start-ups and jobs.
- Reinstates master’s bonus pay to reward teachers with applicable high-need, in-field graduate programs teaching in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and exceptional children fields.
However, some negative aspects in the proposed budget include:
- A budget cut of about two percent, close to $4 million for UNC Charlotte.
- A reduction of state appropriations spent on advancement programs to $1 million per campus, resulting in an $18 million cut to the system and an approximate $1.4 million cut to UNC Charlotte.
- No funding for the UNC system’s “game-changing research,” which includes programs such as UNC Charlotte’s Data Science Initiative.
- No across-the-board salary increases, but the budget includes a new Salary and Market-based Pay Adjustment Fund to support market-aligned salary. The funding available to the UNC system, and for which specific fields, is not clear at this time.
The complete report may be viewed here. UNC Charlotte will continue working with the governor and the General Assembly to emphasize the high need for a new science building, a top priority of the UNC Board of Governor’s capital plan.
From left UNC Board of Governors member Henry Hinton; Rep. Dean Arp, UNC Charlotte '99; UNC Board of Governors member Joan Perry; Dave Craven, UNC Charlotte '12 and UNC Board of Governors member Steve Long
2015 UNC University Day
Leaders from across the UNC system gathered in Raleigh, N.C., for the annual University Day at the General Assembly. Dave Craven, ‘12, former UNC Charlotte student body president, joined members of the UNC Board of Governors and Betty Doster for briefings by key legislators and Gov. Pat McCrory. Later in the day, the group met with legislators to discuss UNC Charlotte’s legislative agenda.
Raleigh Alumni and Legislative Reception
On Wednesday, May 20, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest (’93, ’94) and UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois will host alumni at the Hawkins-Hartness House in Raleigh, for a legislative reception.
The event, sponsored by the UNC Charlotte Alumni Association and constituent relations, is held to provide University updates and to bring alumni together for socializing and networking.
Cost is $10/person and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, dessert and drinks. For more information and to register, click here.
Please contact Betty Doster, Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Constituent Relations, if you have any questions or comments. betty.doster@uncc.edu or 704-608-9382.