- Morning everyone, I call the February 18th meeting of the Board of Governors to order.

I appreciate everybody being here by way of Zoom or in person today.

The same as like each year, we have a challenge, last year as I recall, we had snow, this year we've got ice, pandemics, different rooms, but you all always seem to continue to do the work and I'm very grateful for that.

Before we begin, I wanna announce that we're still not in a place to safely hold board meetings off site.

With that said, I've been in consultation with President Hans and Chancellor Cummings.

We've made a hard decision not to meet at UNC Pembroke this year.

We're gonna reschedule a different time in 22/23 academic year.

And we will continue to hold our board meetings in hybrid format in our building here in Chapel Hill and bar-Zoom conference.

I know we're all disappointed about that but the campus felt that was the right decision and so did we.

I'd like to also remind everyone that we're conducting today's meetings pursuant to the provisions of the Open Meetings Act that are applied during states for emergency and allow for public bodies to meet by way of electronic means.

This law requires we will take all votes by way of roll call, which we'll do today.

Additionally, all chats, instant messages, text, or written communications between members of the board regarding the transaction of public business during remote meeting are deemed a public record.

I'll ask all committee members board members and participating staff to identify yourself before participating in deliberations, including making motions, proposing amendments, and raising points of order.

Finally, I'll ask committee chairs that are in person to give your report from your seats.

Today we only have one camera working so that'll be the best way for everybody to see it.

And for all board members identify yourself before participating so that our legal counsel doesn't hit me in the back of the head again.

So I would like to call them now on Governor Holton for the invocation.

- Let us pray.

Dear Lord, we are ever grateful for all the ways you've blessed our nation, our state and this wonderful university.

We ask your blessing on this gathering today.

Please provide us with the wisdom, the courage, the humility, and the sincere desire to work together, to serve our students, our universities, and the people of this state.

Help us debate and deliberate with respect for each other.

Help us to be patient, kind, open, and understanding.

Help us remember at all times our purpose and mission.

We're privileged to be given the important tasks before us, inspire us, guide us, support us as we continue our efforts today, tomorrow, and in the future.

In your name we pray, amen.

- Thank you governor.

I'd like to now call the Secretary Burris-Floyd to call the role.

- Mister Chairman, I'm having some technical difficulties and I would appreciate it if Meredith would call the roll.

- Not a problem Secretary Burris-Floyd, I'll ask Miss McCullen if she will call the roll.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Present.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Present.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Here.

- Mister Bissette.

- Here.

- Misses Blue.

- Here.

- Mister Byers.

- Here.

- Mister Clark.

- Here.

- Misses Coward.

- Here.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Here.

- Mister Green.

- Here.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Here.

- Mister Holley.

- Good morning.

- Mister Holmes.

[computer chimes] - Here.

- Mister Holton.

- Here.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Here.

- Mister Kotis.

- Here.

- Mister Long.

- Here.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Here.

- Misses Nelson.

- Here.

- Mister Parrish.

- Here.

- Mister Pope.

- Present.

- Mister Powers.

- Present.

- Mister Sloan.

- Present.

- Mister Stone.

- Here.

- Mister Williford.

You have a quorum.

- The state Ethics Act took effect on January 1st, 2007.

And all the voting members of Board of Governors are covered by that act.

Under that, you have a duty to avoid all conflicts of interest and appearance of conflict of interest.

Looking at the agenda for today's meeting, does anyone know that you have a conflict of interest or an interest that would give rise to appearance of a conflict of interest?

If so, let me know now.

- Mister Chairman, good morning.

In accordance with the law and university policy, 200.7 section 3D, to avoid even the conflict of interest, I've recused myself from participating in a matter that's going to come before the board.

This will be my disposition today as it was on yesterday.

And so at the appropriate time Mister Chairman, I will recuse myself.

- Thank you Governor Holley, that's duly noted.

Anyone else?

I would finally ask that any of the board members that are on Zoom call today, try to send Wendy or I a text or if you need or plan to speak, you're all really little up on that screen and, you know, help us out to be able to recognize you appropriately.

So I'm very excited about the next item on our agenda which is the presentation of 2020 Governor James E. Holshouser Junior Award for Excellence in Public Service.

In 2007, the board established the award for excellence in public service specifically to encourage, identify, recognize and reward, public service by faculty of the university.

It is most fitting that award is named in the honor of former Governor Jim Holshouser, whose decades of leadership to this institution and to our state and by the highest ideals of our university's public mission.

This award is our way of showing gratitude, appreciation, and to support the contributions of the talented faculty across the UNC system.

Governor Anna Spangler Nelson, vice-chair to committee on the ed planning and policies and programs oversaw this award process.

And the subcommittee was comprised of Governor Tom Goolsby and Governor Jimmy Clark.

I would like to thank Governors Nelson, Goolsby and Clark, for their commitment to identifying recipients who best personify what this ward represents.

And I now ask Governor Nelson to announce this year's recipient.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman.

On behalf of the Board of Governors, it is a privilege to introduce the recipient of the 2020 Governor James Holshouser Award for Excellence in Public Service.

After careful consideration of many excellent nominees, the committee chose Doctor Billy Ogletree from Western Carolina University as the recipient.

Doctor Ogletree is the Catherine Brewer Smith distinguished professor of communication, sciences and disorders.

For nearly 30 years at Western Carolina, Doctor Ogletree has been a leader in the field of communication sciences and disorders, specifically focusing on assessment and intervention strategies for persons with severe language impairment.

His academic career is marked with achievement and distinction, including the creation of the Cullowhee Conference on Communicative Disorders.

This event has provided quality and affordable continuing education for speech language pathologists for the past 28 years.

Doctor Ogletree is a recognized trailblazer for the advancement of his field, including chairmanship of the National Joint Committee for the Communication Needs of Persons with Severe Disabilities, which established the Communication Bill of Rights advocating internationally for the population of citizens who have severe disabilities and communication challenges.

His service teaching and research are prolific, providing a training ground for today's students, as well as generations of speech, language pathologists and future patients.

Doctor Ogletree received his bachelor of science in speech language pathology from University of Southern Mississippi, his master's from the University of Memphis, and his PhD from Florida State University.

Now please join me in viewing a short video highlighting Doctor Ogletree's impressive work.

[bright music] [gentle music begins] - In his nearly three decades of service to this university and to Western North Carolina, Bill has become a true exemplar and model of how Western Carolina Faculty rise to the call of service, not only in their academic discipline but in keeping with our foundational values as a regional public university.

- What he gives his out of his heart, and when I think of Bill, I think that there is an a blurred distinction between a commitment to one's profession, and a commitment to the biblical teaching of serving the least among us.

Bill is a model for many of us to follow.

Bill I would say is a gift to particularly people with severe disabilities and their families.

- I decided to reach out to Western Carolina University Speech and Language Department, to have a better understanding of my daughter, Haley communication needs.

And Doctor Ogletree was a part of the process from the very beginning, from evaluations to observations, to interaction with Haley.

He was able to design a program that met Haley where she was.

[upbeat Music] - She explained her daughter to me and I said, "Well let me come out."

And I came and observed Haley at her schools, I spent time with Rhonda.

I observed the other students in her classroom, Haley became kind of a little bit of a passion for me.

Actually, her mother used to get a lot of credit, 'cause she drove her from very rural spot.

At our clinic, we began to do therapy, I have my students involved with her.

We used augmentative communication opportunities for her.

She had a very little limited kind of automatic speech.

- Doctor Ogletree described Haley perfectly when we came to him in the beginning, he said Haley is a passive young lady.

- I think the most important thing is again, is that people begin to see Haley differently.

Haley was viewed as somebody who couldn't do things but when she could make a choice and request an item in her life or refuse something that she didn't want that was offered to her.

And all of a sudden, she's a person too, and she's got an opinion and she deserves autonomy.

- And excuse me if I get emotional, but even four years later, to see how the foundation that he laid for Haley with what seemed to be a very simple approach, very doable approach, is where she is today in a more independent world that she navigates.

- Our interactions with them continued though, with the family, until she finished her high school experience and began in the community.

- She is now way beyond a passive young lady with a voice from giving her choices, she has developed a voice and I am forever thankful to Doctor Ogletree for that.

[gentle music continues] - When I think of Bill as a mentor, I think of him not only mentoring probably thousands of students over the years since I've known Bill, but he's a mentor to certainly and particularly to people with severe disabilities and autism to their families, to professionals across allied disciplines.

Bill brings people together, that's who he is.

He's uniter, he's a bridge builder, and he brings people together in the most positive ways.

[upbeat music] He's brought literally millions of dollars, to the university in order to mentor and to train.

I think it's over 175 graduate students who have gone through specialized training with their university expenses covered.

He indeed has mentored different groups of people all bringing out the best of what can be.

[upbeat music continues] - I feel like it's my opportunity and my role.

They're not a whole bunch of people nationally that work in severe, and to be able to share this interest area with guys the students here, has been one of the true blessings of my life as a teacher, is because again, I'm giving our students an opportunity to develop a niche and something they can go out and serve in.

[gentle piano music] - Our Chancellor Kelli Brown noted just like the mighty oak produces acorns that will one day send their own roots into the soil, the students who have come through Doctor Ogletree's classrooms and labs represent a new crop of communication sciences and disorders professionals, providing much needed services to the people of North Carolina and beyond.

- Bill has committed more than 100,000 hours of service as a speech language pathologist, and works closely with community members and elected officials at the state, national and international level, to ensure that people with disabilities have a voice in shaping informed public policy.

[gentle music] - What began as back in the early '90s as a person coming and giving a lecture has emerged into a day and a half conference, we've grown from a early attendance of 50, 60 speech pathologists and students to now many times we'll push 300.

And that gives our students this crazy opportunity to attend it at no cost and hear from national experts.

[upbeat music begins] This group is a national group of scholars and experts in severe disabilities and we work together to promote policy and practice.

I now chair that committee and have for several years.

We've been involved in everything from recent issues around COVID, trying to protect the special and vulnerable population and those who work with them to working with Communication Bill of Rights, a document that serves to provide guidance for the rights of individuals with severe disabilities to have communication at their back and call and to be able to participate like you and I do.

[gentle orchestral music] [bright music] - Congratulations Doctor Ogletree, you exemplify public service, Western Carolina university, all of the State of North Carolina.

We owe you a debt of gratitude for your meaningful contributions to your students, your field, your community, and our society at large.

You not only bring your knowledge, but your heart and authenticity to the classroom every day.

You're literally the voice for those who need it the most.

And you've changed the lives of numerous children with disabilities.

Doctor Ogletree, would you please honor us with a few words.

- First of all Good morning from Cullowhee.

During my brief time with you, let me offer some thanks to some important people followed by a few short comments.

First, thanks to President Hans and our esteem Board of Governors.

You do so much for students, faculty, staff, friends, and other stakeholders of the University of North Carolina system, and your work is appreciated.

Also thank the subcommittee of the educational planning and programs for the whole house reward, including Chair Anna Nelson, members Jimmy Clark and Tom Goolsby.

Your work in recognizing Holshouser Award winners must be challenging.

And I appreciate each of you.

Finally with respect to those at GA I thank Kelly Anne Gregory both for her assistance and her kindness, GA has a gin in Kelly Anne.

Beyond GA I thank Mike O'Connell producer and director at UNCTV for today's wonderful video, and all of those who participated.

At Western Carolina University, I think my Chancellor Doctor Kelli Brown and my provost Doctor Richard Starnes.

These two individuals work tirelessly each day for me and others in Catamount nation.

I thank Doctor Lane Perry who chaired the Holshouser Award Committee and my faculty peers that participated as committee members.

Doctor Perry made me look good.

Also thank my dean, Doctor Laurie Anderson and my former dean, Doctor Doug Kesclo who have always supported my efforts.

Closest to me at Western I thank my department head Doctor Tracy Rice and my current and former colleagues.

Their collaborative efforts make my work more meaningful.

Of my faculty peers, I've special appreciation today for Doctor David Shapiro, a former Oliver Max Gardner winner, and Doctor Georgia Hambrick, a long time colleague.

Of course, I also thank my current and former students.

Each day I have and continue, they make life fun.

Most meaningfully, I thank the children with disabilities and their families who have participated in projects and service opportunities throughout my career.

I've learned so much from each of them.

Finally, I'd be remiss if I did not thank my wife of 31 years and the love of my life, Julie Tweedy Ogletree.

Julie, you've always been in my corner.

As for comments, mine are quite short.

My sister and brother on today's call and would confirm that we grew up in a home that valued service.

My father, a lifetime Rotarian could often be heard quoting rotaries mottos, "Service above self."

And, "One profits most who serves best."

I have indeed profited from service, profited in friendships made and deepened, profited spiritually and emotionally.

I've heard it said that you're lucky if coming to work occasionally makes you joyful.

In 29 years at Western Carolina University, I've had very few days when work was not joyous.

In fact, it has been a pleasure, an absolute honor to work in a setting where service's not only encouraged, but deeply valued.

To close up here today's recognition, it's the highlight of my career.

And I'm forever grateful to all of you.

God bless - It is a time for great excitement and appreciation of the Board of Governor formally honors Doctor Ogletree.

I would like to thank the members of his family and his colleagues that are joined with us today.

This individual's light Doctor Ogletree, and others all across our great university who strive on a daily basis to serve in a way that enhances the quality of life for many North Carolinians.

Thank you again and congratulations, Doctor Ogletree.

- Thank you.

- I would like to now call on President Hans for president's report.

Floor is yours sir.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman.

When this board met a year ago in February, 2020, there was no mention of coronavirus on the agenda.

A month later in March of 2020, most of our campuses had announced they weren't returning to in-person instruction after spring break.

The board then heard a full briefing on COVID and the proposed economic relief packages working their way through Congress at the time.

A month later, the board convened remotely for the first time.

It has been by every measure, the most unusual year in the modern history of higher education.

The word disruption doesn't really begin to capture the scale of the change and the challenge our universities have faced, and are facing still as we navigate what I sincerely hope will be the final months of this pandemic.

Today, I'd like to take a step back from the virus and the all hands on deck response our institutions have mounted because, the core work of this university hasn't paused during this trying time.

If anything, it has become more urgent.

This board, this university has focused on specific ambitious goals for improving graduation rates, expanding critical research, supporting key growth areas for the state's workforce, and welcoming more first-generation rural and low income students to our campuses.

Unlike box ticking laundry lists that so many put forward, the University of North Carolina's plan laid out clear priorities, meaningful metrics for success and incentives for campus leaders and system leaders to meet those targets.

And as we heard yesterday, it is working.

Even amid all that has happened in this past year, we've held true to our mission and our goals.

You have kept faith with the promises we made to the students and the people of North Carolina.

Graduation rates have reached new highs.

Now, head and shoulders above nearly all of our public university peers across the country.

Economic impact has already exceeded our five-year goal with plenty of time to spare.

Degree efficiency continues to rise.

And sponsored research and licensing revenue reached an extraordinary $1.74 billion in the last fiscal year, underscoring the tremendous impact our universities have in driving innovation, making discoveries, and improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians.

There is still work to be done, particularly for low income and rural student enrollment.

Work made significantly harder by the huge disruptions to K-12 schooling over the past year.

But taken as a whole, the progress we've made in achieving our strategic plan goals is remarkable and a testament to the focus and hard work of people all across the state.

We've asked faculty, staff, students, to make something good out of impossible circumstances this year.

And they have, they genuinely have.

I firmly believe much of the progress we're seeing on these key metrics, is driven by an intense focus on the one metric that matters a whole lot to students and families, that's cost.

This marks the fifth consecutive year that the University of North Carolina has held tuition flat for in-state students, halting a decades long trend of ever rising prices.

I don't know a state in this country that could match that record.

We've made some hard choices in order to keep tuition in check, but I believe it's been worth it.

North Carolina is one of vanishingly few states where average tuition and debt at public universities has actually declined over the last five years.

That not only represents a genuine improvement in opportunity and quality of life for our students, but it sends a resounding message to the next generation that the people's university remains within their reach.

And Mister Chairman, I have a few visual aids I'd like to share if I could.

And I realize these won't show up as well on Zoom as they would in our regular room, but this won't be the last you see of these charts, because we wanna take this message across the state, to the people.

The first shows our UNC system weighted average tuition and fees around $7,000 versus the national average in tuition and fees.

And I believe probably even on Zoom, you can tell the national average is $3,500 higher.

North Carolina's average, much lower.

Important to access five years of flat tuition.

You can see up here, this is the institutions excluding our three universities in the NC Promise program Held flat five years in a row about $4,500.

Tuition at the NC Promise institutions of course, Elizabeth City, Western Carolina, and UNC Pembroke, went down thanks to the support of the general assembly and taxpayers across the state to $1,000, $500 a semester.

These two charts tell a compelling story about access and affordability, and we have still increased graduation rates and quality along the way.

Now Members of the board, we still have plenty of work to do on student fees, on housing and other expenses, that contribute to college costs.

We're hard at work on reforms to the state's financial aid system that will make it an even more effective recruiting tool and help incentivize on time completion.

But the progress of the last few years it's real, and it's made a real difference for the students and the families of North Carolina.

None of it would be possible without the support of our lawmakers, the confidence of our citizens, and the leadership of this board, and the chancellor's and the campus communities.

And I'm grateful for all of you.

Now our charge goes beyond education of course.

We're here to serve the people of North Carolina, all the people of North Carolina to meet the highest and most urgent needs of our state.

And we'll be doing that in a very direct way in the weeks ahead.

As you know, our campuses have been conducting essential research into safe and effective treatments and vaccines, but as of this morning, UNC Health alone has administered 160,000 vaccination statewide.

And we've opened or begun to open for vaccine clinics across the state, making use of the critical infrastructure of our campuses to help bring the coronavirus pandemic under control.

From the earliest days of this pandemic, we've been in close contact with state officials, not only to get their advice, but to find out how we can help.

As vaccine production ramps up and the state prepares for a broader rollout, we're eager to do our part.

N.C. A&T launched a vaccine clinic last week.

And the initial rollout in conjunction with Cone Health went so well, the doses for this week were doubled.

Additional clinics will be open in the next few days at UNC Asheville, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina University.

At Pembroke, our nursing students will be in special mobile units, distributing vaccines to rural Robeson County.

And for coming weeks and months, these campuses and the others that will soon follow, will be a beacon of hope in our communities.

So I want to thank everyone across the university system, who is taking on added responsibilities to make this happen.

Every person we help vaccinate, gets us one step closer to ending the pandemic, fully opening our economy and reclaiming the shared spaces we all miss so dearly.

Mister Chairman, this concludes my report.

Thank you.

- Thank you, Mister president.

I appreciate the good news over here and across our system.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank all the governors in this room right now on Zoom for the support they continue to give our campuses and for the hard work you continue to do as well.

We will now consider the items on the consent agenda listed in item five today on your agenda.

Are there any items members would like to have removed for discussion?

If not, I would entertain a motion to approve the administrative items by consent.

[indistinct chattering] That's not on the consent agenda.

- I saw that too [indistinct] - Go on we'll take that up in budget and finance as a separate item.

[indistinct chatter] Okay Misses Murphy moves to approve.

Do I have a second?

[overlapping chatter] Any additional discussion?

Hearing none, I'd ask Miss McCullen to call the roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

Misses Blue.

Mister Byers.

- Yes.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Aye.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries.

- Mister Chairman.

Thank you, Miss McCullen, yes Governor [indistinct] - I voted yes on that.

- Okay, we were recording that [indistinct] - Thank you.

- I will now call on Governor Holmes for the report on the committee budget and finance.

- Thank you, Mister chairman.

We'll have several budgets today, so just bear with us.

We'll try to be as expeditious as we can.

Members of the Board of Governors, during a regular meeting of the committee on budget finance yesterday, the committee received the general fund update including information on revised consensus revenue forecast issued last week.

Senior vice-president, Jennifer Haygood reported that the state general fund revenues for the current fiscal year are projected to be $4.1 billion higher than previously forecasted.

The current year's anticipated surpluses is driven by sales tax collections, which have increased despite the pandemic and delayed tax payments that shifted approximately 1.1 billion out of fiscal year '20 and into fiscal year '21.

The forecast further projects moderate growth sustained throughout the 21 through 23 biennium with revenues reaching 28.5 billion by the end of fiscal year '23.

The economy is expected to remain stable throughout the forecast period, and to grow at a pace below the long-term historical average.

So I really, really encouraging news there and hope everybody takes note of those points.

Miss Haygood presented the 21/22 tuition fee authorizations to the committee for consideration.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Governors recommended no tuition increases for resident students and several institutions requesting increases to non-residential student rates, which were approved by the committee.

At this time on behalf of the committee on budget finance, I move that the Board of Governors approve the proposed 21/22 tuition.

- The members of the board you've heard the motion, it does not require second.

Is there any discussion?

Hearing none, I'd ask Miss McCullen to call the roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey - Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Yes.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford.

- Yes.

- Motion carries.

- Motion carries Governor Holmes [indistinct] - Committee also approved the request of fee increases consistent with tuition and fee instructions, including a 3% capital mandatory student fees enacted by the 2016 general assembly.

At this time on behalf of the committee on budget finance other than the Board of Governors approved the 21/22 fees.

- Members or board you've heard the motion, any discussion or debate?

Yes sir, Governor long.

- I oppose the motion because as I've said before several times how's the administrative security fee because it walls off in the budget, one politically powerful or superly popular item so that when there is a need for additional funding the result is to an increased fee rather than to other sections of the budget.

And I don't feel that that's an appropriate fee for the university.

The board has always been willing to fund whatever is needed for security to pay for the salaries of our law enforcement personnel.

And that should be a regular item in the budget.

It shouldn't be a separate fee.

So for that reason, I'm opposing the fees.

- Thank you Governor Long.

Additional comments, Governor Pope, I understand you are trying to speak.

- Yes.

Mister chairman, I agree entirely with Governor Long's sentiments, however, because of the situation we've been in with the pandemic and the other issues has passed past several years, I do you think this' a priority funding.

And then my hope as President Hans said earlier that not only will we keep tuition flat, that we would keep fees flat, student fees flat.

But due to the particular nature, and this is the only means we have at present available to increase funding for public safety, I'm gonna support the motion.

But I will say, I personally am committed that next year we lower student fee, we addressing the separate fees and going back and looking at the overall base budget as well as the expansion budget.

I've been encouraged by the discussion we had yesterday in budget finance making progress on that.

So I'm gonna support the motion for this fee increase.

But I hope we can more than make up for it by lowering student fees next year, having a good review of the base budget to fund our priorities.

- Thank you, Governor Pope, dully noted.

Governor Kotis.

- Thank you.

I'm back when we last voted on this in 2014, I completely agreed with Steve on this and was concerned about having a fee versus having the original amount.

Now back then also, it was proposed it would be a $50 fee.

So when people wonder where these numbers are coming from $50, it was proposed back then.

And of course the police have additional challenges this year in an unprecedented way.

But I agree with Governor Pope and by extension Governor Long, but until we review the base budget and have the ability to look that through and make sure our priorities are being funded, these fees are a stopgap mechanism that we use temporarily but I would hope that next year we're able to take or over the next year, take a deeper dive and eliminate the need for some of these fees and include them in the base budget.

But I will be supporting this fee.

- Thank you Governor Kotis, I think Chair Holmes would like to respond.

- Yeah, not really a response, I partially agree with Governors Pope, Long and Kotis.

I think there's a deeper conversation on why we use fees that we can have next year as we get into it.

But regardless with respect to this particular matter, the Genesis for this increase as Marty rightly points out, the original request was higher than what we did, but to my colleagues who have not had the opportunity to sit in the persuasive presentations about the issues we have with recruiting and retaining our police officers, training them and providing an environment to create levels of adequate staffing, so forth and so on.

I will tell you that this increase's in response to a need that has been identified consistently in multiple committees over multiple months.

And it's never popular to increase a fee or tuition.

I personally believe we should always do our best, like all of you to keep them as low as possible, but in this case, we have a need and we need to address it.

So I hope that everyone will support this increase.

And I hope our campuses will continue to be the good storage of this money and help to make inroads in eliminating what is a substantial problem.

- Thank you Governor Holmes.

Any other board members wish to comment?

If not I'll just make one comment.

I don't think anyone on this board is not committed to ensuring we make higher education in North Carolina affordable and continuing to insure it's affordable.

You know, one of the things we talk about is tuition and we've got a lot to celebrate there over the last five years.

But we also have to look at the overall cost of attendance.

That's the number that I'm concentrating on.

And I hope that we will continue to concentrate on going forward.

I'm very encouraged by some of the work the committee on budget and finance is willing to take on and what our subcommittees have been doing with regard to tuition fees.

And I personally am looking forward to continuing this and continuing to ensure opportunities for everyone across North Carolina.

That said, if anyone else doesn't have a comment I'll ask Miss McCullen to record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Yes.

- Mister Holley.

Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- No.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Aye.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Thank you.

After further discussion about the campus security fee and it's usage the committee approved a motion for Governor Mitchell to add suicide counseling and prevention to the list of authorized uses of campus security fees.

Suicide is a clear and present danger that has not only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that our institutions have the tools that they need to reduce the risk of suicide and it's long lasting negative effects on the campus community.

I'll pause before I make the motion to say that, I think we all support expanding the authorities of our campus to make decisions and this was a good attempt or a good recommendation to expand campus' ability to utilize these funds as they deem appropriate.

So really excited about that.

On behalf of the committee on budget finance, I move to add this additional use.

- Okays members of the board you have heard the motion, does not require second.

Is there any comments or discussion?

Go ahead Governor Kotis.

- I think it's a noble goal.

I had a chance to speak with Fred yesterday and clarify how it might be most impactful.

And he described to me that when they're addressing suicide, it's often not a nine to five type thing.

It's two o'clock in the morning or four o'clock in the morning.

And what they're doing is suicide intervention and they're sending out crisis response teams.

So I think that was really the intent.

We can ask Alex if that was the intent but just to make sure we get the language right, if we could say suicide intervention and crisis response teams rather than the broad suicide prevention, which could be more of a nine to five or counseling, which isn't this urgent need to address someone that's on the brink.

If governor Mitchell would agree to that modification?

- Well, my concern is at two o'clock or four o'clock in the morning, it's more an after the fact issue than a before issue.

And so prevention to me is an important part of it much like, you know, the security fee right now has a substance abuse counseling as an approved usage.

And it has since the day it started.

Obviously it wasn't just the acute issues with substance abuse, it was counseling to prevent it from happening to begin with.

And I don't want the campuses to feel limited in using the resources to prevent this as well.

I understand what you're saying, but it is to me, the prevention piece is a critical piece.

- And Alex, I had a chance to look back on the original report.

And the reason that you had the drug counseling was because you're dealing with a criminal item.

They're breaking the law if they're taking the illicit drugs.

And that's why the drug counseling was part of that, because you're trying to keep someone from going to jail, so you're counseling them and kind of leaving them to break that habit.

But he did say that the suicide interventions where the police are involved and this is the campus security fee.

And I think that that would be the most useful mental health counseling just in general I think falls more under our health services fee.

But I was just trying to direct this more towards suicide intervention and crisis response teams, and absent friendly amendment, I would move to amend the motion to reflect that.

- So maybe just a suggestion that we add to, Alex would you be willing to accept an addition of intervention and Marty, I forget the other thing you said but.

- Crises response teams.

- Crisis response.

- Absolutely.

- All right so the motion will be amended without objection to include crisis response in, drawing a blank here today Marty, help me.

[Governors laughing] - It's the intervention and crisis.

- Thank you, I need to write stuff down.

All right so.

- So is there any objection to the amendment?

The amended motion?

If not.

[indistinct] Governor Holmes, I've got a couple of people that want to speak you.

I know you can't see them.

So if it's okay, I'll recognize them.

I think Governor Green was first in the queue.

- That's fine, Alex did not object.

So I say the amended motion is what's on the floor now.

- Yes, I accept Marty's amended motion.

- Awesome, thank you.

I just wanna speak out in full support of this motion.

I think this is exactly what we should be doing with our security fee as it is being increased.

We're just making sure that all forms of security on our campus are being responded and fairly compensated well, as well as our police, as Governor Kotis has mentioned and as well as Governor Mitchell mentioned, this is a really important problem.

And if you have a student or if you know a student on our campuses, you know just how important this problem is as our students are dealing with.

Mental health crisis and suicide on their own campuses and on their own time.

So I just wanna speak out in full support of this motion and hope you all will as well.

Thank you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Isaiah.

Governor Long.

- Mister Chairman, I just want to mention that when the campus security fee was enacted by President Ross and he was the one who suggested it.

Overwhelmingly it was to increase the salaries for law enforcement personnel.

And what we're doing here today is essentially fee creep.

And we're now expanding the scope of this fee which I think again, argues for the fact that it should not be a fee because the fee is supposed to support an isolated activity.

And this is obviously a very broad activity and everyone supports security.

So again, I would just say that the fact that this is being brought for us is just that it should be part of the regular budget, not as a fee.

And I will oppose it for that purpose.

- Thank you, Governor Long.

Governor Holmes [instinct chatter] I'm giving it to him.

- Yeah so I would just, Steve I know you and I disagree on this.

I think we're resolving an issue, but we've agreed to disagree on this point.

I think the bigger point I would make is we yesterday expanded the potential uses with the further comment that we encourage chancellors to evaluate at their campus how they can best deploy these incremental resources.

And we encourage you to explore all of the uses, which is why we expanded and everything we've done has been in response to concerns that have been expressed.

Say this is our attempt to resolve real issues with the mechanisms that we have available to us today.

So we will look forward to future conversations about line item budgeting.

But today we're trying to address the real concern of having a shortage of police officers, training police officers, providing facilities and equipment for police officers, empowering them to deal with real-world situations.

And you know, this is exactly what this board is supposed to do, create policies and mechanisms to resolve the issues that face our campuses and to protect our students.

And I would appreciate your support in expanding this authority.

- Okay, thank you Governor Holmes.

Governor Kotis would like to comment.

- One last comment, I agree with Steve that the priority needs to remain the primary issue that we have, which is recruiting and retaining officers.

And I think the committee was clear on that, that that was going to be the priority, but to the extent there were dollars left over, they would be available to be used for a broader range of items.

- Thank you Governor Kotis.

Any more comments from board members?

Hearing none before I call to vote, I will make one comment.

I don't believe I've ever had an issue on this board that we've had more discussion about.

And I think it has been vetted about as well as anything I've ever been through.

I believe if we all were paid one cent a minute we probably could have, one cent an hour, we probably could have paid for a fee for a student.

So we have certainly put a lot of time and effort into this and I'm gonna split the motion.

Miss McCullen would you call the roll and record the vote please.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Yes.

- Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- No.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Motion carries Chair Holmes, You may proceed.

- Thank you, Miss Haygood presented the 21 through 23 base budget which the committee approved, the recommended based budget is 2.96 billion, which is 16 million less than the current year authorized budget due to reversal of non-recurring funds appropriated for enrollment growth building reserves.

Base budget now reflects prior years physical authorized budget.

The sum of the 21 through 23 base budget and the expansion budget priorities previously approved by the board constitutes the university's total request for general fund appropriations for current operations.

This request pedals approximately 3.1 billion for each year of the biennium, excluding any appropriation for faculty and staff salaries.

Upon board approval, the recommended budget will be officially transmitted to the governor general assembly with acknowledgement that the board has relied on the base budget provided each year without further modification.

The committee had a robust conversation about our plans to improve our budgeting practices including the development of an all funds budget, that more comprehensively captures planned expenditures across for all revenue sources.

At this time on behalf of the committee on budget and finance, I move the board of governors approve the proposed 21 through 23 base budget.

- Members of the board you've heard the motion, is there any discussion on this matter?

- Mister Chairman?

- Yes, sir [indistinct] - Mister Chairman, I appreciate the excellent discussion we had yesterday at the budget and finance committee on this issue.

And I'm not gonna repeat all my comments from yesterday, and I appreciate being allowed to speak an at-large board member not a member of the committee.

But for the benefit of the full board and the chancellors and the audience, When the University of North Carolina was established as a consolidated system 1971, is when the Board of Governors was expressly giving them, not merely the authority, but the responsibility to develop [loud cough drowns out speaker] unified budget for the campuses.

Over the years that that exercise of that authority and responsibilities eroded.

The budget process this year has been consistent with the immediate previous years.

However, I will note, and as Chairman Holmes observed, we were actually presented as legislative priorities, a one page expansion budget back in November without having done any review, much less development of the base budget.

Now the base budget is tightly defined by statute, but the campuses developed the base budget and presented it to and support it to the office state budget management for the governor's recommended budget preparation.

And it bypassed the UNC Board of Governors.

We didn't look at it.

We passed on the expansion change before we looked at the base budget.

The campuses should have, and I support as a legislator in the past, management flexibility, budget flexibility.

But flexibility becomes accountability.

But as we've seen from the previous debate, we don't review the base budget, then whatever's in the base budget just gets automatic renewed to continue funding, you know, sort of lower priority compared to our high priority such as public safety and mental health and suicide prevention and intervention.

So I look forward to the process as having a thorough review of the base budget.

And the university and board of governors exercise and this responsibility to provide guidance to the campuses to review what the campus submit, and that we then based on that base budget proposed changes, and expansion be forward to the governor and the general assembly as required by statute.

Is my understanding that the progress we're going to have.

So also my further understanding that was not part of the record that the transmittal letter will reflect that we didn't develop this base budget, we're forwarding the base budget as it's already been presented by the campus institutions and for the office of state budget management.

But on that basis, with that understanding, and looking forward to working with the UNC systems office, the campuses of course, the Board of Governors itself for better budget process next year, I will support this motion.

- Thank you Governor Pope.

Are there other comments or discussion on this motion?

Hearing none, I'll ask Miss McCullen to call the roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Blue.

Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Yes.

- Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

Mister Hutchens.

Mister Hutchens.

- Can you hear me?

- We can now yes sir.

- All right, yes.

And thank you very much to the Chairman Holmes and his committee on this job, it's difficult and time consuming, and he has done one heck of a job in my opinion, thank you.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Thank you, motion carries Chairman Holmes, please proceed.

- Thank you, we're getting down into the short rows now Miss Haygood explained the university significant backlog of deferred maintenance.

Campuses were directed to focus there 21 through 27 six year capital improvement plans, on extending the use of buildings for rehabilitation and renovation rather than new construction or expansion.

These plans were used to develop recommended priorities for the 21/23 biennium.

The committee approved and with board approval, the appropriate capital projects will be included in the budget request for the 21 through 23 biennium.

I do wanna make one comment, I made it in committee and I just wanna make it to everyone.

We have developed a list of priorities.

It is important that we stick with our priority which is repair and renovation.

It is my hope that we will not hear of individuals or individual institutions lobbying for things outside of this list.

This has been a problem in times past and we're gonna certainly try to do a better job of policing that within the legislative bodies.

I spoke to folks this week about that very point and hopefully we can stay coordinated.

So let's stay within our priorities to fix what we have and use what we have.

At this time on behalf of committee on budget and finance, I move that the Board of Governors approved the proposed 21 through 23 capital priorities.

- Thank Chairman Holmes.

Board members, you have heard the motion, is there any discussion or debate?

Hearing none, I'd ask miss McCullen to call a roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Yes.

- Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Aye.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Motion carries Chairman Holmes.

- The committee considered and approved the following routine administrative and transactional item.

Committee approved the increase authorization for capital improvement project requested by East Carolina for the health sciences campus heat plan deaerator tank in the amount of $665,000 which will be funded by Kerry Ford and R&R.

In total, the committee discussed six items and one was on the consent agenda approved a few moments ago.

Lastly and thankfully, Miss Murphy provided an update on the task force on pricing, flexibility and affordability.

The task force finalized recommendation to define distance education programs for fee charging purposes, during the task force to assemble mainly the system office was directed to develop a clear program based definition of distance education that would govern who pays all mandatory fees, and who would pay a subset of those fees.

In addition, the system office was instructed to solicit campus feedback on that definition.

A recommendation was considered an approved by the task force and will be discussed and recommended to the committee on budget finance and its April meeting.

The task force examine current policies in regard to student fee revenues.

The system office was asked to collect information targeted one-time special authority could be granted to a campus due to budget challenges, and this will be discussed at a future task force meeting.

My compliments to Wendy and everybody on that group.

They're doing really, really good work.

And if you have a chance to sit in and listen and participate, would strongly encourage it.

Mister Chairman, thank you, this concludes my brief remarks.

- Thank you, Governor Holmes.

If that's brief, I'm not looking forward to the next meeting.

Great job by your committee.

I'd like now to call on Mister Sloan for report on community ed planning policies.

- You're muted, Governor Sloan.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman.

At our meeting yesterday, in a response to a request to President Hans from the five UNC system, historically black colleges and universities, the Educational Planning Committee approved proposed revisions to 700.1.3 of the UNC policy manual.

The amendment would permanently raise the cap on non-resident first time, freshmen students, from 18 to 25% for the UNC system HBCUs to be sent for a vote by the full Board of Governors through the consent agenda at our next board meeting.

As well Doctor Van Norte gave a detailed report on spring 2021 enrollment across the UNC system.

Doctor Andrew Kelly provided an update on the latest data trends and highlights related to the system's progress on strategic plan goal metrics.

Doctor Bethany Megan also shared the annual report on career college promise and cooperative innovation high school programs.

We also have one item for closed session that will require a vote.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, this concludes my report.

- Thank you Chairman Sloan, I appreciate your efforts and your input today.

I like to now call on Governor Blue for the committee personnel and tenure.

- At this time I might call Mister Killian for the UNC Staff Assembly update.

- Thank you, Governor Blue for this opportunity to provide a brief update on behalf of the staff assembly.

We're on the costs of working under COVID conditions for almost 12 months now, something no one envisioned on last March.

I remember that ECU, when we pivoted for what we thought would be a couple of weeks and now almost a year later, I'm still teleworking and speaking to all of you virtually.

So COVID has no doubt reshaped the way our system works, demonstrating that many staff can support our students and faculty while working remotely.

I think institution and system leadership see this and will embrace teleworking where possible as we move forward.

It has many advantages, including reducing staff footprint on campus which allows more space to be used for faculty and instruction.

It can also serve as a recruiting tool and an added benefit for eligible positions.

There will be details to work out, but we're excited that the system makes our office is [indistinct] telework regulation that will help guide the institution's [indistinct] for employees and the institution.

Speaking of COVID, it has again caused us to make some changes to our annual Chancellor's Cup Golf Tournament.

The tournament this year was the 19th but we don't really feel confident in the ability to have such a large gathering in May.

Instead of canceling the tournament for a second year, we feel comfortable just postponing it a few months.

So our new date is set for Wednesday, September 29th still at Tobacco Road in Sanford.

As we get closer, I'll be reaching out to you all in hopes that the BOG will register our team or two, and support the tournament and our staff scholarship fund.

While we're on this topic of our scholarship fund, I'm very excited to let you all know that we're in the process of officially endowing the scholarship.

Mister Tim Minor and your advancement office has been working with us and we finalize the paperwork that will establish the endowment so our tournament proceeds can begin earning interest.

We will continue to increase the endowment amount for the life of the tournament, and we all understand that one day it'll probably run its course.

But our goal for the endowment is for it to thrive even in the absence of the golf tournament.

Ultimately, we'd like to be able to award up to $10,000 annually from this endowment to deserving staff.

Yeah, it's an aggressive goal, but something we definitely feel is possible.

I've been volunteering with the tournament for several years and this endowment illustrates how committed the assembly is and supporting staff throughout our system with these scholarships each year.

This is the only system level award designed to benefit staff at all 17 institutions.

And this board as well, was instrumental in the early years to help get the tournament established.

So just a quick word of thanks to the BOG for their support in the past and as we move forward in the future.

At our January board meeting, last month I had an opportunity to present some of the findings and recommendations from the racial equity task force.

I was very proud of the work the task force did and the final report we presented last month.

The staff assembly is very interested in following action items from the report as they may be addressed either on the local or system level.

In addition, we hope to hear regular updates again on a local and system level, as to progress being made to address the racial inequities.

We all know this is a world-class system, and confronting these racial inequities head on will only make us a better, more inclusive university.

Lastly, I'd like to comment briefly on staff salaries.

I'm hearing more and more from staff from across the state how salaries have fallen behind local labor markets.

This can make it difficult for us to recruit and retain talented staff and faculty and your recent legislative priorities you identified salaries as a priority.

Thank you on behalf of staff for making this a priority and focusing efforts on staff compensation.

Even before COVID, staff mirror and cost of living adjustments were minimal.

And the few years of little action that's taking its toll on staff.

So thank you all again for making this a priority for the board and also for your advocacy President Hans.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to provide a brief update.

Governor Blue, this concludes my comments.

- Thank you Governor Blue, thank you, Mister Kelli.

And we certainly appreciate the work staff assembly is doing and staff across our entire system.

Thank you so much.

- Thank you.

- I'd like not call on Chair Power for the Committee on Governance and Finance.

I think university governance.

[governors laughing] - Men, I just got to upgrade big time, didn't I?

- I got Holmes online, I'm sorry.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman, the Committee on University Governance held a productive meeting yesterday.

As you may recall in November, the governance committee began our free speech and free expression series of presentations.

These presentations are to provide opportunities for the constituent institutions to showcase their commitment to promoting and protecting free speech, the steps they are taking to inform students, faculty and staff about rights and responsibilities, and their strategies for gathering and utilizing recommendations to improve free expression across the university system.

Here in the first presentation, we heard from three faculty members of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Their presentation was an informative look at the state of things on one of our campuses in regards to free speech and free expression.

Yesterday, we heard how Doctor Andrew Kelly will work with these three professors, Naly, Larson and Ryan from Chapel Hill, to expand their research to include additional institutions across the system.

Yesterday's panel discussion focused on two critical points of view.

The student and the chancellor.

The committee heard from Chancellor Dixon of Elizabeth City State Chancellor Sartarelli of UNC Wilmington, Mister Dalton George, the immediate past president of the Appalachian State University College Democrats, and Mister John Wall, the immediate past president of the UNC Charlotte College Republicans.

The discussion was informative and it's beneficial to hear these important perspectives as we continue our research on free speech and free expression across the system.

And I offer my heartiest thanks to the four of our participants yesterday.

This afternoon, I'll be participating in a Martin Center webinar on free expression.

Doctor George La Noue will be presenting his research on policy debates and forums on North Carolina college campuses.

Sarah Stroud, the faculty director of the UNC Chapel Hill program for public discourse, and I will be commenting on Doctor La Noue's research.

Next, every two years, one half of the Board of Governors elected board of trustee positions, require either new elections or re-election.

This committee's membership serves as liaisons to each of the institutions to identify, review, and make recommendations of candidates to the full board of governors for election or re-election to the various boards of trustees.

The governance committee members have been working diligently with chancellors, board of trustee members, and other members to identify our recommendations.

We will bring our full list of trustee nominations before this committee and the full Board of Governors at our April meeting.

Also want to remind you that all of our upcoming appointments on the North Carolina Teaching Fellows, and the UNC Press Boards.

I know that we have the 2021 trustee appointments at the front of our minds, but we do make other appointments as well.

I would like to make you aware that NC Teaching Fellows has two vacancies, and we will bring these recommendations forward in April.

The UNC Press Board has three upcoming vacancies beginning June 30th, 2021.

Appointments to the UNC Press Board have a slightly different process.

The UNC Press Board creates a nominating committee and then nominees are voted on by the full board of the UNC Press Association.

These nominations are sent for approval to the chancellor's office at UNC Chapel Hill, who forwards them to the president of the university system.

The president then submitted the names to the governor's committee and ultimately to the full board for final approval.

I think that was developed by Rude Goldberg if I'm not mistaken.

These will come before the committee in May for our approved.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, that concludes my reports this morning.

- Thank you Governor Powers, appreciate your report.

I would encourage board members and others to listen in on these discussions about free speech and free expression.

Yesterday the chancellors and the students both did an outstanding job, and I commend the Chair Powers for putting this in place to hear Chancellor [indistinct] yesterday is something we all should listen to because he's got quite a compelling story.

But I was very impressed by people with different points of view and how well they worked together yesterday.

And again, I would encourage anyone listening to make an effort to listen in on these discussions going forward.

I very much appreciate it Chair Powers, Thank you.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman.

- I'm now calling on Governor Byers for a report on the committee on public affairs.

- Thank you Chair Ramsey and fellow Board of Governors.

public affairs committee met yesterday to review the activities that have taken place since our last meeting in January, receiving an update from both state and federal government relations staff.

We have one item for action today.

Yesterday, Barton Goodson, senior vice president for government relations gave an update to the committee on activities and meetings at the North Carolina general assembly.

with respect to our efforts to promote our 2021 budget proposal and legislative agenda.

Elizabeth Moore, vice president for federal relations updated the committee on the latest COVID-19 stimulus proposal in Washington.

She also recapped the UNC federal priorities for the 117th Congress, which includes critical federal research funding, legislation to expand access affordability, and students success, and the ongoing need for federal support for UNC system institutions during COVID-19 pandemic.

I asked staff this morning and each of you received an email that had the priorities even though they were in our packet and on board only you have access to those priorities in case you wanted to look at those again.

On behalf of the committee on public affairs, Mister Chairman, I move that the board vote to approve the UNC system federal priorities, for they 117th Congress.

- Members of the board, you've heard the motion, it does not required second, is there any discussion or debate?

Hearing none, I'd asked Miss McCullen to call the roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Yes.

- Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Thank you.

Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Motion carries Mister Chairman, please continue.

- Mister Chairman, believe it or not.

That concludes my remarks.

I wanna say, make up a little time for all that talk Holmes was doing earlier.

[chairman giggles] - Thank you very much, Governor Byers.

- Well, thank you again.

- Yes, sir, I'd like to call on Mister Holton now for report on audit risk management compliance.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman.

The Committee on audit risk management and compliance met yesterday afternoon.

The meeting covered a range of audit and risk management topics.

And we have one item for action today.

First Lynn Sanders presented a summary of the 2020 fiscal year financial statement audit reports issued today by the Office of the State Auditor.

All 16 institutional audits contained no audit findings.

We congratulate the chancellors and their respective financial reporting teams for this successful audits.

Next, Brian Heckle from the Department of Insurance joined our meeting.

As you now know, each institution has all risks special form coverage, which means that for the first time our university system has a broad and consistent scope of property coverage.

However, it's important also to realize that even with all risks coverage, there are a number of exclusions.

And Mister Heckle attended yesterday to provide the committee with a description of the exclusions and allow discussion.

It was a good presentation.

I think it's fair to say the committee is now comfortable with the full scope of all risk special form coverage and the flexibility it provides institutions.

Our final presentation and open session was made by Fred Sellers.

He discussed measures in action that would help address the key enterprise risk in campus safety and security.

As you will recall from our last meeting and from our earlier discussion today, he focused on the critical challenge experience today in recruiting and retaining our campus law enforcement officers.

Governor Holmes made a nice point earlier about the importance of the problem and the compelling presentation that was made.

But let me put it quite simply.

We have a 16% vacancy rate, a dramatically declining pool of qualified candidates, and frankly a non-competitive offer that we can make to those fewer candidates.

That's the problem we're trying to solve.

Fred presented potential solutions.

We asked him to come back this month and present potential solutions and make specific recommendations for an immediate path forward.

So based on discussions with various chiefs and the system team, Fred outlined four recommended actions yesterday.

One requires a vote by the full board and three required only committee approval.

System office staff, Fred Sellers, and the chiefs, recommended and the Carmack approved to support eliminating the cap on tuition waivers and fees, for full-time campus law enforcement officers.

Currently, North Carolina General Statute 116-143D states in part, "Any full-time staff member at the University of North Carolina may, during the period of normal employment enroll for not more than three courses per year in the University of North Carolina free of charge for tuition and fees."

After presentation about that and a good discussion, the committee voted to recommend elimination of that cap.

Moving this item forward requires amending the current law.

And we recommend that the Board of Governors approve including this item in the 2021 Board of Governor's legislative policy priorities.

So Mister Chairman, on behalf of the committee, I move that the board of governors approve, including in the 2021 Board of Governor's legislative policy priorities, legislation amending chapter 116-143D of the North Carolina General Statutes to eliminate the cap on tuition and fee waivers for campus law enforcement officers.

- Members of the board you've heard the motion, it does not require a second.

Is there any discussion or debate?

Governor Kotis.

- I strongly support this motion.

And just to clarify, I believe the language reflects now that it's for a full-time and part-time which covers law enforcement officers in total.

- Okay yes.

- Yes sir Governor Kotis, it's correct.

More discussion or debate anyone?

Hearing none, I'll ask Miss McCullen to take a roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

Mister Holmes.

- Yes, thank you, yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

- Yes.

- Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Yes.

- Thank you Mister Parrish.

Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Motion carries, Chair Holton, please proceed.

- Thank you.

The other three recommendations approved by the committee included taking action to enhance the salary structure, career ladder and organizational structure of the campus law enforcement area.

Develop plans to launch additional and timely training programs at Samarkand Training Facility, as well as identify any equipment needs there.

And finally, to develop a system for dual employment to gap fill critical vacancies.

After all this discussion, I think it's fair to say to your point earlier, Mister Chairman, that everyone is absolutely committed to using these opportunities to solve the issue we have there with recruiting and retaining campus law enforcement personnel.

With that, thank you, Mister Chairman.

This concludes my remarks for the open session.

- Thank you Governor Holton, we appreciate your work on that committee.

I'd like now to call on Governor Coward for the report from the committee of strategic initiatives.

- And Chair Ramsey if I could, before I start my report, I just want to give a shout out to UNC, hail Doctor Burke and it's managed hospital Pardee that's located in Hendersonville.

As some of you know, my 98 year old mom had a fall a couple of days ago.

She's recuperating very well, actually up and going.

Thanks Mitch to the care that she has received at Pardee.

Now onto my report.

Yesterday the committee on strategic initiatives continued the discussion of innovation and higher education.

We began by exploring demographic projections for the state which predict a significant slowdown in the number of 18 to 24 year olds.

Over the next two decades.

These trends have significant implications for our universities, which are heavily reliant on these traditional age students for enrollment.

Indeed our data shows that just over 10% of our full time undergraduate students are over the age of 25.

These trends suggest that to remain competitive and meet the needs of the state, the UNC system will need to think creatively about how to serve the more than 1 million North Carolinians with some college, but no degree.

We discussed the challenge of recruiting and serving these adult learners.

Many of whom must balance work, family, school.

Adult students are much more likely to choose online programs, to enroll part-time, and to bring a good deal of transfer credits with them.

We concluded the meeting by exploring a number of strategies for serving adult students, including online programs with high demand fields, flexible schedules with multiple start dates, employer partnerships and stackable credentials.

While many of our universities are working to develop such offerings, making significant progress will require a concerted effort and support from the board and system leadership.

In doing so, we must balance the urgency we all feel to prepare for the future and the need to choose a strategy that has a high probability of success.

So ahead, the community will host external experts and leaders from our own system to develop a way forward.

We look forward to continuing this discussion in our next meeting and really thank all of you who participated yesterday.

We had a really robust discussion and the committee can't be more excited about moving forward with this.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, that concludes my report.

- Thank you Governor Coward, we appreciate your effort on strategic initiatives and of course the staff's help and we all will keep your mother in our prayers and hope that she recovers very quickly.

I'd like now to call on Governor Daughtry for the report of committee on military and veteran affairs.

- Thank you, sir.

The Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs was full of good news yesterday.

We started out with Lauren Augustine, vice-president of Government Affairs for Student Veterans of America.

She shared information about the Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 which is a comprehensive new Federal Bill that positively affects student veterans.

Most notably, this new bill that requires that all institutions of higher learning and receiving VA federal funding, provide in-state tuition to students using VA educational benefits who are living within the state, regardless of the formal residency status.

That really helps us because we have a pool of over 200,000 veterans who are in the state, but they are not residents of the state.

This would allow them to have in-state tuition prices.

Next the committee heard from Miss Kathie Sidner regarding new partnerships with Fort Bragg's 18th Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division, key members of our federal congressional delegation was also successful in securing $8 million for fiscal year 2021 Defense Appropriations Bill to support academic partnerships like this with the army operational units.

This partnership will strengthen the UNC systems, existing relationship with the military, and allow for new opportunities to encourage and enhance education research innovation and stem and other related disciplines.

Next, Miss Siobhan Norris shared with the committee the information she presented to the White House this past December, on the systems of mental health and suicide prevention initiatives to support our military students.

She collaborated with the North Carolina Governor's Working Group, the North Carolina Health and Human Services, and co-presented with Doctor Antonio Puente, a UNCW professor and former president of the American Psychological Association.

Suicide prevention among veterans and military families is a key priority for the White House administration, as well as Governor Cooper's administration.

Research shows that both traditional and military students, are experiencing significant rates of depression and anxiety.

However, the system office and our universities are working hard to support these students with a wide array of resources and training.

Lastly, the committed members had a brief update from one of our faculty liaison's Doctor Alan Freitag from UNC Charlotte.

Doctor Freitag spoke of two initiatives.

He's leading with support internships with various veterans service organizations into [indistinct] community, as well as leading students PR teams to improve strategic communications between the university and the Veterans Services Office on campus.

Thank you, Mister Chairman, that concludes my report.

- Thank you, Governor Daughtry, I sat on a good portion of your meeting yesterday and I thought it was a great meeting filled with good news.

We appreciate you continuing this effort.

- Thank you, sir.

- Before I begin my chair's report, I want to give everybody an update on governor Parrish and Governor Williford.

As you know, they both been dealing with some health issues over the last month or so and both currently are at home now recovering.

I hope you'll please keep each of them in your thoughts and prayers as we go forward.

And we look forward to having them back in the room with us.

So we've loaded you a policy discussions over the past couple of days and I appreciate everybody's participation.

That said I understand you've had your fill of speeches.

So I'm gonna make my remarks brief this morning.

As North Carolina deals with the coronavirus pandemic well into the new year, it's easy to get bogged down in the headlines about COVID-19 on our campuses, but news is not all bad.

UNC is making some amazing contributions, and I'd like to mention just a few of them today.

As President Han said earlier, North Carolina A&T University opened a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at it's Greensboro Campus last week.

A&T is the first of our campuses to offer vaccines to the community.

And several other UNC schools will follow suit in the coming weeks.

As you heard President Hans say, through today UNC Healthcare has already given 160,000 vaccinations for residents across our state.

For me, this is a great example of our university's core mission of education and public service.

By collaborating with our state's health and emergency management departments, UNC will help move North Carolina forward towards a safe reopening.

Speaking of collaboration, our universities are working around the clock to test students and make campuses safer.

Due to those efforts, they've all been able to open for some form of in-person classes.

I'll remind everyone that this is a critical offering for many students who struggled with remote learning and isolation through the pandemic.

We've learned a lot this semester about how to respond to the virus.

And now that our campuses are maintaining a careful balance, making every effort to protect their community while educating the workforce that would lead North Carolina's economy out of this.

I will say this in these times of trial, it's easy to lose sight of the long game.

But even with the emergencies and distractions, we haven't taken our eyes off the ball.

Our campuses are multitasking and making tremendous progress on UNC's five-year strategic plan.

In 2016, the UNC system committed to improving on several fronts.

Student success and access, affordability, efficiency, economic impact, and community engagement, and to continue as diverse institutions.

That's a heavy lift, even if we weren't dealing with a global pandemic.

But I'm happy to say we're exceeding those goals on numerous fronts.

Our graduation rates have gone up and many of our students are finishing their degrees more efficiently.

We're also graduating more students in fields like health science and teaching which will continue to be a high demand going forward.

Of course there's always work to do.

We must improve access for low income and rural students, especially given the economic fallout of COVID-19.

We should be encouraged that our enrollment reached record numbers last year.

UNC is educating more students now than ever before.

And I'm confident we will find ways to make higher education affordable and accessible for all people of North Carolina.

To that end, I'm pleased to say this board has voted to keep the in-state tuition flat for a fifth year.

I don't think you can say that enough.

I'm gonna say it one more time.

The UNC system hasn't raised in-state tuition for five straight years.

Our budget and finance committee has worked hard and asked many tough questions about tuition and fee increases, and I think we've ended up in a really good place.

They've been diligent.

And I wanna show that work has paid off.

A recent report by the college board shows where one of just a handful of states to actually reduce the overall cost of college for our residents.

I wanna thank the general assembly for helping us achieve this by enacting the NC Promise program.

Since 2018 we've been able to offer affordable $500 per semester in-state tuition at three of our universities.

We look forward to working with our legislative partners to ensure NC Promise continues.

Together, if we can keep costs down, we will all be better off.

Finally, I'd like to recognize a renewed sense of alignment exists between Peter Hans, the UNC system senior staff, and this board President Hans has been at his role for about six months.

And he has not had a very easy trail to handle.

But he's done it with grace.

He's made tough decisions, leading our campuses with strength and humility.

Back when we were searching for a new president, I repeatedly said this will be the most important decision we would make as board members.

And I firmly believe that today.

I'm grateful that we found the right person to lead this system.

[Ramsey clearing throat] So thank you President Hans.

I know the days have been long and stressful.

I know it's only February and there's a lot more to do to keep our community safe.

Also note this is a true team effort.

Our working together we'll be better stewards and govern the people's university for many years to come.

I will now entertain a motion to go into closed session.

[overlapping chatter] - Thank you, Mister chair.

Members of the Board of Governors, I move that we go into closed session pursuant to NC General Statute 143-318.11A13N6 for the purposes stated in the written motion that was included in the meeting materials which have been publicly made available.

- Members of the board, you've heard the motion, do I have a second?

- I'll second.

- We have a second.

Miss McCullen you call the roll and record the vote please.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

- Yes.

- Mister Goolsby.

Mister Holley.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

- Yes.

- Mister Williford?

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Thank you, we're moving into closed session and taking just a very brief break.

Okay members, we are back in open session.

So I'll now call on Governor Blue for the report on committee on personnel and tenure in open session.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman, this report covers items discussed on the committee on personnel and tenures meeting yesterday.

Matt Birdy provided general human resources updates to the committee on various human resources related topics included COVID-19, work leave provisions, as well as work underway to update EHRA non-faculty salary ranges to reflect new 2020 market data.

The committee also reviewed an informational report on recent salary increase request activity.

The report reflects a substantial decrease in salary activity approved by the president or designee as compared to the equivalent period last calendar year, as a result of the pause in non-essential human resource actions due to COVID-19.

The committee also reviewed a routine informational report which is available in floor today.

The committee also received a briefing on the use of job categories called JCATS, in analyzing the composition of the university's workforce, which is the basis for the five-year study that is underway on the growth of the university's administrative positions.

In closed session, President Hans presented his nominee for the next chancellor of Fayetteville State University.

The committee on personnel and tenure voted to accept his recommendation and submit his nominee and the proposed terms of his appointment to the full board today.

I will now ask President Hans to present this candidate for an open session vote.

- Thank you, Madam Chair.

For the past year and a half, Doctor Peggy Valentine has served as the interim chancellor of Fayetteville State University.

She is a wonderful person, so conscientious, and she previously served as dean of Winston Salem State School of Nursing and has served very capably at FSU.

I'm so grateful for her leadership.

Today, I am recommending Mister Darrell Allison, as the next chancellor of Fayetteville State University.

As you all know, Darrell is a longtime champion of North Carolina's universities.

He's a graduate of both NC Central and UNC Chapel Hill Law School.

A strong advocate for the role that historically black colleges and universities play in the life of our state.

For the last several years, Darrell has been widely respected member of the Board of Governors.

He played instrumental roles in creating the board's committee on historically minority serving institutions where he did incredible work, advancing the interests and long-term health of these storied universities.

He was a powerful voice for establishing and guiding the system's racial equity task force, which is doing so much to advance the core mission of public higher education.

Few people in our state can testify more genuinely to the ability of our public universities to change lives and transform communities.

And so I'm excited to see Darrell focus that energetic advocacy on behalf of Fayetteville State University.

He brings a wealth of experience, not only as a state level leader in higher education, but as an active and generous trustee at his Alma mater, North Carolina Central University.

Some of my most animated joyful conversations I've ever had with Daryl, are about the scholarship fund he established in the name of his father, Thomas Alison.

Helping to recruit and support rural students who are seeking a life changing opportunity.

Darrell is also a longtime leader at the national level in advancing educational opportunity.

He's managed big and complex teams and led major advocacy and governance projects.

And he's proven his ability to work easily with policy makers across the political spectrum bringing people together around shared goals to benefit students.

Having worked closely with Darrell over the years, I was not surprised when the Fayetteville State Board of Trustees put his name forward to lead that vital institution into its next chapter.

The board of trustees knows that Darrell understands the state, he knows the university, and knows the extraordinary value of FSU to the people of North Carolina.

Fayetteville State is the second oldest institution in the UNC system.

And the school's history traces North Carolina's long struggle to become a place that welcomes the talent and aspiration of all people.

From its establishment as the Howard School in 1867, devoted to the education of black children, and then the training of black school teachers, Fayetteville State has been an engine of economic uplift and civic hope for more than 150 years.

Today, FSU welcomes thousands of students from North Carolina and beyond, proudly helps veterans and active duty military personnel advance their lives and careers and serves as a center of culture and community for the wider region.

The people who have served and learned at that institution, represent the best of North Carolina.

And I know Darrell will carry that legacy with care.

The FSU motto is [speaking in foreign language] "Deeds not words."

I'll take that advice to heart and bring this introduction to a close, but not before saying that I expect great deeds from Darrell, and from the devoted Bronco community that will be supporting him.

Darrell, welcome.

I look forward to seeing you in these halls in Bronco Blue very soon.

Thank you, Madam chair.

- On behalf of the committee, I with great honor move that the board of governors vote to elect Mister Darrell Allison as chancellor of Fayetteville State University.

- Members of the board, you've heard the motion, is there any discussion or debate?

Hearing none, I'd ask Miss McCullen to call a roll and record the vote.

- Chair Ramsey.

- Enthusiastically yes.

- Vice chair Murphy.

- Yes.

- Secretary Burris-Floyd.

- Yes.

- Misses Blue.

- Yes.

- Mister Byers.

- Aye.

- Mister Clark.

- Yes.

- Misses Coward.

- Yes.

- Mister Daughtry.

Mister Daughtry.

- He's gone.

- Mister Goolsby.

- Yes.

- Mister Holmes.

- Yes.

- Mister Holton.

- Yes.

- Mister Hutchens.

- Yes.

- Mister Kotis.

Mister Long.

- Yes.

- Mister Mitchell.

- Yes.

- Misses Nelson.

- Yes.

- Mister Parrish.

- Yes.

- Mister Pope.

- Yes.

- Mister Powers.

- Aye.

- Mister Sloan.

- Yes.

- Mister Stone.

Mister Williford.

- Yes.

- Motion carries - Motion carries.

- Thank you.

I'm sorry.

I was about to jump in, but go ahead.

Go ahead and close out.

- Thank you, Mister Chairman.

That concludes my remarks.

[Ramsey laugh] - Thank you, Governor Blue.

And I'd like to personally thank the research committee and the Board of Trustees at Fayetteville State University.

Congratulations, chancellor-elect Allison and to the Fayetteville State University community.

We look forward to working with you.

And I know you will do great things for Fayetteville State.

I also believe the chancellor elect has some family members tuned into PBS North Carolina live stream from Kannapolis.

And before adjourn today's meeting, I wanna specifically recognize Miss Girlene Alexton who's watching today.

Board that concludes our business for today, if there's no objection, we stand adjourned.