- Madam Chair, you may begin.

- Thanks Meredith.

Good morning everyone.

Thank you for joining virtually today.

We have a pretty short agenda and should be able to move through the business quickly.

Governor Ramsey, would you please deliver the invocation at this time?

- It will be my pleasure.

Thank you.

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father, we come before you with grateful hearts, mindful of the privilege and responsibility entrusted to this board.

We thank you for the opportunity to serve students, faculty, staff, and the communities who look to our universities as places of learning, discovery, and hope.

Grant us wisdom to make decisions that are thoughtful and just, courage to do what is right even when it is difficult, and humility to recognize that the greatest leaders are those who serve others.

Help us listen with respect, speak with integrity, and work together with a spirit of unity despite different viewpoints.

May our deliberations be guided by truth, fairness, and a commitment to excellence in education.

Bless the leaders of our board in their new roles today, the leaders of our universities, the faculty who inspire, the staff who faithfully serve, and the students who are preparing to shape the future.

May they grow not only in knowledge but also in character, compassion, and purpose.

Remind us that education is more than the pursuit of information.

It is the development of wisdom, the cultivation of opportunity, and the preparation of men and women to combine to the common good, contribute to the common good.

As we begin this meeting, may our decisions reflect sound judgment, faithful stewardship, and a vision that will benefit generations to come.

We ask your guidance and blessing upon this board, our universities, our state, and our nation.

In your holy name we pray, amen.

- Ms.

McCollum, would you please call the roll?

- Chair Blue?

- Here.

- Vice Chair Hutchins?

- Here.

- Secretary Coward?

- Here.

- Dr.

Barnes?

- Here.

- Mr.

Bradley?

- Here.

- Mr.

Brown?

- Here.

- Dr.

Burris-Floyd?

- Here.

- Mr.

Byers?

- Here.

- Mr.

Chatterjee?

- Here.

- Here.

- Mr.

Bates?

- Here.

- Ms.

Gabbard?

- Here.

- Mr.

Chatterjee?

- Mr.

Clark?

- Here.

- Mr.

Davis?

- Here.

- Ms.

Fanning?

- Here.

- Mr.

Ford?

- Present.

- Mr.

Fraley?

- Here.

- Ms.

Greening?

- Here.

- Mr.

Holley?

- Here.

- Mr.

Holton?

- Here.

- Mr.

Mitchell?

- Here.

- Ms.

Murphy?

- Here.

- Ms.

Gattas?

- Here.

- Mr.

Gattas?

- Here.

- Ms.

Gattas?

- Here.

- Mr.

Gattas?

- Here.

- Ms.

Murphy?

- Here.

- Ms.

Nichols?

- Good morning.

Mr.

Pope?

- Present.

- Mr.

Ramsey?

- Present.

- Mr.

Sacchagna?

- Present.

- Mr.

White?

- Here.

- Mr.

Williford?

- Here.

- Madam Chair, you have a quorum.

- Looking at today's meeting, does anyone have a conflict of interest or an interest that would appear as a conflict of interest under the State Ethics Act?

If so, please let me know.

Hearing none, I'll move right along.

I'll keep my comments short as we do our best to hold an efficient meeting, but I do want to say how happy I am for the opportunity to serve as Chair of this Board, leading us through the next two years of service together.

I also want to say an enormous thank you to my friend and colleague, Chair Emerita Murphy, for her commitment to the future of this university.

Wendy, you're an exemplary leader and a true friend.

I can't imagine a better handoff than the one you have given me, and I'm excited to collaborate with you as we continue to strengthen the university's mission.

And to Chair Emerita Ramsey, I'm grateful to you as well for the wisdom you continue to bring to the table and for the support you offer as we improve public higher education for our students.

To me, one of the best qualities of this Board is the teamwork and camaraderie we've built over the several years.

I'm a stronger leader for it, and I know we'll continue to sharpen and strengthen one another as we serve the people of North Carolina.

With that, I would like to welcome our newest BOG member, Ms.

Lee Fanning.

Lee comes to us VOA of ECU, where she served on the Board of Trustees there.

So I'd just like to welcome her, and when we all meet in person in September, show a warm party welcome from the bunch here.

With that, I look forward to speaking to you in greater depth when we meet in September at the Dillon.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and spend quality time with loved ones.

And I hope you return to the Board table well-rested and prepared for the exciting work ahead.

Thank you, and that concludes my remarks.

At this time, I will call on President Peter Hans for the President's Report.

- Great.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I appreciate it.

I promise to keep my remarks brief as well, but I'd like to offer an update on the work at UNC Asheville.

As you know, it is a unique and vital part of our higher education landscape.

Having an institution rooted in the arts and sciences, focused on undergraduate teaching and delivering a great student experience in a supportive environment, it helps us serve a fast-growing, fast-changing region of the state.

The UNC-A keeps us firmly tied to the great humanistic core of higher education, the venerable tradition of close inquiry and formative classroom experiences that are at the heart of our teaching mission.

And I'm more convinced than ever that a deep Asheville-style education is gaining in actual value given shorter attention spans and increased reliance on the latest technology.

These times call for judgment, character, creativity, ethical reasoning, and communication skills.

In other words, what it means to be human in a world of machines.

The last few years have been tough on Asheville.

Enrollment there and everywhere in the liberal arts has declined.

Hurricane Helene interrupted a UNC-A comeback, and we are still working through the aftermath.

As you all remember, the entire Asheville region spent the fall and winter of 2024 as well into the spring and summer of 2025 in crisis and recovery mode.

Coverage of the region took a toll on recruitment, and the long-range shift in enrollment required some adaptation in UNC Asheville's programs.

Chancellor Van Nort and her team have done difficult and often thankless work to get the institution on sound footing for the years ahead, and I'm very grateful.

Due to their persistence, UNC-A is now building for the future.

The Chancellor and her team are exploring high-demand majors in data science, climate science, and biochemistry; a business school to meet rising student interest; online degrees to serve adult learners; and new programs in the health sciences to address crucial needs specific to the region.

Now, before these proposals come to the Board of Governors, we are working to reallocate funds from the System Office to support the development of these initiatives.

This will be on top of $1.5 million the System Office recently invested there in campus beautification, signage, and enrollment support.

And this week, the UNC-A Advisory Committee shared a clarified vision for a millennial campus that could deepen connections to a fast-growing city and region while serving students and faculty and staff.

They will take some time to bear fruit, and that's okay, because one of the great strengths as a public system is that we work on long horizons.

Talking about students and citizens will be serving decades from now.

And I see that kind of long-range ambition at Asheville.

I expect, fully expect, that we will see a renewed commitment to the core principles of a rich and relational education that Asheville is known for.

And like the state we serve, our universities have always been a dynamic mix of tradition and innovation, devoted to preserving what is great while embracing what is new and needed.

And that spirit is at work at UNC Asheville.

I'm eager to see where it leads.

Many more details to share as they unfold in the months ahead.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

- We will now consider the consent agenda items listed as item five on today's agenda.

Are there any items that members of the Board of Governors wish to have removed for discussion?

Okay, if not, I will entertain a motion to approve the administrative action items by consent today.

- So moved.

- Second.

- I have a second.

Any further discussion or debate?

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

Governor Bradley, will you please give us the report on Budget and Finance, Committee on Budget and Finance.

- Thank you, Chair Blue.

Chair Blue and members of the Board of Governors, during its virtual meeting earlier today, the committee received two presentations, a short session state budget update and the FY 2027 All Funds Budget Report.

The full FY 2027 All Funds Budget Report is available as additional information on Board Effect.

The committee also reviewed and approved three items that were included on the consent agenda that the Board just approved, the 2026-27 Operating Budget Allocations, the authorization for use of Special Obligation Bonds commercial paper for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an authorization of four new capital projects at two institutions and six increased authorizations at four institutions.

Finally, the committee's additional materials included in the University of North Carolina included the University of North Carolina quarterly capital report for July 1, 2026 and the report on need-based aid from tuition.

These reports are available in Board Effect.

Thank you, Chair Blue.

This concludes my remarks.

- Thank you, Chair Bradley.

Governor Barnes, will you please give the report on the Committee on Ed Planning, Policies and Programs.

- I will.

Thank you, Chair Blue.

In our meeting, the Committee on Educational Planning, Policies and Programs reviewed the Academic Degree Program actions where we had one new program establishment.

The changes were presented and approved by the full Board through the consent agenda.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

This concludes my report.

- Wow, very efficient.

Governor Mitchell, would you please give the report on the Committee of University Governance at this time.

- Thank you, Chair Blue.

During today's meeting, the Committee on University Governance discussed and approved the following appointments to be voted on by the full Board today.

Note that biographical information for all candidates is in Board Effect.

The Committee voted on six appointments to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission.

The appointments before the full Board now are to reappoint Dr.

Malcolm Butler, Dr.

Amanda Lee, Mr.

Tlaik Harley, Dr.

Deborah Powell, and Mr.

Patrick Brennan for terms ending on June 30, 2028, and to appoint Dr.

Andre Green to serve an initial term starting on July 23, 2026 and ending June 30, 2028.

On behalf of the Committee on University Governance, I move to approve the nominations of Dr.

Malcolm Butler, Dr.

Amanda Lee, Mr.

Tlaik Harley, Dr.

Deborah Powell, Mr.

Patrick Brennan, and Dr.

Andre Green to the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Commission.

- Board members, you have heard the motion.

Any discussion or debate?

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

- [all] Aye.

All opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

- Next, the Committee voted on six reappointments to the PBS North Carolina Board of Trustees.

The reappointments before the full Board are Mr.

James Broughton, Mr.

James Cain, Mr.

Cully C. Carson IV, Ms.

Anne Mayo Evans, Mr.

Russell Smith, and Mr.

Bill R. West to terms ending June 30, 2023.

On behalf of the Committee on University Governance, I move to approve the nominations of Mr.

James Broughton, Mr.

James Cain, Mr.

Cully C. Carson IV, Ms.

Anne Mayo Evans, Mr.

Russell Smith, and Mr.

Bill R. West to the PBS North Carolina Board of Trustees.

- Members of the Board, you have heard the motion.

Any discussion or debate?

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

- [all] Aye.

- All opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

- The Committee then voted on an appointment to the University of North Carolina Asheville Board of Trustees.

The appointment before the full Board now is to appoint Mr.

Kenneth Russell Edwards to serve a partial term starting on July 23, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027.

On behalf of the Committee on University Governance, I move to approve the nomination of Mr.

Kenneth Russell Edwards to the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees.

- Members of the Board, you have heard the motion.

Any discussion or debate?

All in favor, let it be known by saying aye.

- [all] Aye.

- All opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

- The Committee voted on an appointment to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Board of Trustees.

The appointment before the full Board now is to appoint Mr.

Jonathan Ward to serve a partial term starting on July 23, 2026 and ending June 30, 2027.

On behalf of the Committee on University Governance, I move to appoint the nomination, excuse me, to approve the nomination of Mr.

Jonathan Ward to the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees.

- Members of the Board, you have heard the motion.

Any discussion or debate?

All in favor, say aye.

- [all] Aye.

All opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

- Finally, the Committee voted on four appointments to the UNC Press Board of Governors.

The appointments before the full Board now are to appoint Ms.

Maria Estradillo for a partial term starting on July 23, 2026 and ending June 30, 2030, and Mr.

C. Edward Teague III, Ms.

Elizabeth Englehart, and Ms.

Osamudia James to serve terms starting on July 23, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031.

On behalf of the Committee on University Governance, I move to approve Ms.

Maria Estradillo, Mr.

C. Edward Teague III, Ms.

Elizabeth Englehart, and Ms.

Osamudia James to the UNC Press Board of Governors.

- Members of the Board, you have heard the motion.

Any discussion or debate?

All in favor, say aye.

- [all] Aye.

- All opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

- Thank you, Madam Chair.

This concludes my report.

- Okay.

We will now move into closed session.

Do I hear a motion that we go into closed session under Chapter 143 of General Statutes as stated in the publicly available motion?

- So moved.

- Second.

- Any discussion or debate?

All in favor, say aye.

- [all] Aye.

- All opposed, light sign.

Motion carries.

I will wait for Meredith to signal us to continue at this point.

- Madam Chair, you may continue in open session.

- Okay.

Thank you, Meredith.

That concludes our business for today.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Governors will be on Thursday, September 17th at the UNC System Office in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Thank you all for your time today and all the efficiency that was included.

Have a good rest of your day.

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Madam Chair.

Good meeting.

- Thank you.

- Great job, Madam Chair.

- Thank you.