Chancellor

The UNC Charlotte community is mourning the death of Charles C. “Cliff” Cameron, 96, a longtime and dedicated supporter of the University.  

Cameron’s service to the University began in 1967, when he became a member of the board of directors of the UNC Charlotte Foundation.

“It is impossible to measure the impact that Cliff Cameron made on UNC Charlotte and the whole University City region,” said Chancellor Philip L. Dubois.

Raises for state employees and enrollment growth funding for the UNC system are among the measures included in the N.C. House of Representatives budget, slated for a final vote May 19. The state Senate is working on its budget, which is expected to be released by May 27.

For state workers, the N.C. House budget proposes a 2 percent salary increase with a one-time $500 bonus for all employees. The UNC system would receive $31 million in funding for enrollment growth, of this, UNC Charlotte would get about $8.6 million.

UNC President Margaret Spellings has offered the following comment on her response to the U.S. Department of Justice regarding federal nondiscrimination law and the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act (HB2), as well as legal action initiated today by the department:

UNC Charlotte is a vibrant, expanding institution, and the University is making plans for another transformational jewel in its crown.

 The Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) LYNX Blue Line Extension (BLE) is an approximately nine-mile addition to the Queen City’s existing light rail service that will connect UNC Charlotte Center City and the main campus. There will be two stations that will provide service to the University. 

UNC Charlotte Chancellor Philip L. Dubois is the 2016 recipient of the World Citizen Award, presented by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte. This prestigious honor recognizes his commitment to improving the international presence of the Charlotte region. He was given the award formally at a dinner Wednesday, April 20.

Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C., announced today that Krista Newkirk, currently chief of staff for Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, will be the college’s new president. Newkirk, a 13-year employee of UNC Charlotte, will assume her new role at Converse on July 1.

The Alumni Reunion Weekend, First Citizens Bank Scholars Medal ceremony and Leadership Charlotte are among the topics for the latest installment of the “Chancellor’s Fast Five.”

An oval-shaped great lawn to provide opportunities for people to be around other people, along with a monumental water element and more “pocket” spaces for activities, amenities and gatherings were the major elements of the conceptual design revealed at the final Belk Plaza Forum, April 11.

“We created a palate that would accommodate just about anything. The functional flexibility of space reflects classic design and introduces contemporary expression,” stated Adam Martin, a LandDesign associate and UNC Charlotte alumnus.

Last week, I informed you that the University was anticipating formal guidance from the General Administration as to how the newly-enacted Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, also known as House Bill 2, applies to UNC Charlotte. We now have that guidance in the form of a memorandum from UNC President Margaret Spellings, available here on the General Administration website. The text of the Act, which I would encourage you to read, is appended to the memorandum.

The final Belk Plaza forum will be 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, April 11, in the Cone University Center.  At this event, there will be a short presentation by key members of the LandDesign team to reveal the conceptual plan for the plaza’s transformation.