Three with Lee

As part of a series in The Well, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts addresses three topics of importance to the Carolina community.

Q: We spoke earlier this year about how the federal funding of research may impact Carolina. How are we working to showcase the impact of research at Carolina?

A: Our top priority is advocating for the University, for our federal funding and for our mission of public service to North Carolina. I, along with our federal affairs team and Vice Chancellor Penny Gordon-Larsen, recently went back to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of Congress and the administration to advocate for Carolina.

Last week, Penny and I shared details on a cohesive messaging campaign that launches May 20. Our University Communications and Marketing team has been working to extend the excellent work that UNC Research has done showcasing the impact of our research. For a week, research initiatives are going to be shared across a variety of platforms from all academic schools, colleges and units. We’re also working on targeted messages to government officials.

We’re hopeful that sharing the tangible outcomes of Carolina’s research across our major schools, athletics and our alumni network will increase the awareness of our work with key stakeholders. We need to tell our story and tell it well. I’m looking forward to seeing this “research takeover” and am grateful to the collective efforts across campus in telling these stories. I hope that the campaign inspires Tar Heels both near and far to share the impact of Carolina’s research with their networks.

Q: Housing has been another priority for you, both in creating student and workforce housing options. What will that look like?

A: The University recognizes the serious need for updated and new student housing and we are committed to addressing it, especially as we are increasing student enrollment. One of my primary initiatives as chancellor involves the Physical Master Plan, with student housing being a major focus. We currently provide housing for approximately 50% of our undergraduate students — exceeding most of our peers. We assembled a dedicated working group that actively assessed our current situation and developed long-term strategies for improvement. Their recent Carolina Housing Master Plan outlines actionable recommendations to expand and enhance student housing, and we are moving forward with the design of the first residence hall in 20 years, which will be located on north campus and will house approximately 700 students. The project is expected to be completed by fall 2028. As part of our Carolina Housing Master Plan, we are also planning to increase the number of beds we are able to offer graduate students.

Additionally, we are prioritizing the development of affordable workforce housing for staff and faculty, along with market-rate options, to help reduce the significant housing pressure in the area. When we looked at the market in Chapel Hill, we saw that there’s an increased supply of new apartments, but there is a decrease in single-family homes, either for sale or for rent. That lack of supply has driven up housing prices in the area, making it difficult for our faculty, staff and professional students to live near campus. Right now, it’s much cheaper for those with families to live in surrounding counties and face a longer commute to campus. We’re working to define available land that we can utilize for housing and will determine a percentage that will be made available for University employees. We’ve also looked at how some of our peer universities are tackling this issue. These efforts are critical to supporting the Carolina community as a whole.

Q: There have been some changes in senior leadership recently. Can you talk through any updates to share on searches?

A: We’re excited about the new leaders joining our team, including Vice Chancellor and General Counsel Paul Newton and the new School of Education dean, Jill Hamm. Newton, a double Tar Heel, brings deep law, business and government experience to Carolina. Hamm is a renowned researcher and has advanced the education school’s commitment to educator preparation and community engagement. We look forward to seeing them both further the goals of the University.

As we end the academic year, we typically expect leadership changes and this year is no exception. Earlier this month I shared that Chris Clemens stepped down from his role as provost and chief academic officer. We also announced that Dean Martin Brinkley and Dean Angela Kashuba will be stepping down as the longest-serving deans currently here at Carolina. All three took those roles because they care a lot about Carolina, and we thank them for their committed service to the University and wish them well on their return to research and academia.

We will begin national searches to fill these roles. In the meantime, we’re excited to welcome Jim Dean back to Carolina as interim provost. Jim served as Carolina’s provost from 2013 to 2017 and also led UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School as dean from 2008-2013. Dean Stan Ahalt and Dean Nancy Messonnier will serve as co-chairs of the provost search committee, and Beth Moracco will serve as special adviser to the search to connect faculty.

Finally, the search is almost complete for the senior vice provost for undergraduate student success, which is a new role at Carolina. We expect that role to look closely at the overall alignment and coordination of the full student lifespan during their time at Carolina, as well as serve as the primary point person for all student needs as we welcome an additional 500 undergraduates to campus in the fall. It’s critical we have a leader tasked with connecting the dots across the undergraduate experience so we can best serve students.