On Tuesday, March 29, Chancellor Gilliam addressed the UNC Greensboro community in person at the UNCG Auditorium and via livestream on the shared future of the University. Over 750 faculty and staff attended (in-person and virtually).
Themes addressed included the University’s vision, goal, budget and its reliance on enrollment, strategy moving forward, and the campus community’s collective call to action.
Chancellor Gilliam began his speech by stating that our vision and goal has and will always be access and excellence, mentioning that we at UNCG are trailblazers in higher education accessibility – on the leading edge of what the “University of the Future” looks like.
“From our early days as the Woman’s College to the modern-day University that today graduates more than 5,000 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students each year, unlocking potential in people not traditionally served by higher education has been encoded into our DNA.”
Chancellor Gilliam highlighted a few of the University’s recent achievements, including accolades such as being named a “Best College” by the U.S. News & World Report for 32 consecutive years and No. 1 in the state and No. 13 nationally for social mobility, proving that higher education accessibility doesn’t have to come at the expense of academic excellence.
He noted that our goal is to be a model university of the future – a modern R2 with a high level of basic, applied, and community-engaged research and creative activity that makes a difference in the lives of its students and the communities it serves; one that fuels innovation and equips leaders with the skills needed to tackle societal challenges; and one that trains career-ready talent to excel in critical segments of our workforce to help grow local economies while providing a reasonable standard of living and quality of life for all.
Chancellor Gilliam then illustrated the University’s strategy, highlighting the work that has been done since 2016 and the work that still needs to be done in the changing landscape of higher education that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“Together, we have accomplished a lot over the last 6 years, but the higher ed landscape is dynamic, and keen observers have noticed troubling trends. To remain relevant and viable for future generations, we must be flexible, adaptable, and opportunistic. The decisions we make now will likely lay the groundwork for UNCG’s next 10 to 20 years.”
In response, Chancellor Gilliam discussed the enrollment and budget challenges given the changing landscape and outlined five strategic “levers” to increase revenue:
- Grow enrollment and retain students
- Modernize administrative operations
- Invest in research enterprise and distinctive programs
- Focus on our advocacy efforts
- Increase philanthropic dollars
Finally, Chancellor Gilliam charged the campus community to make student enrollment and retention a part of their everyday work; to recognize the collective contributions of fellow Spartans that help advance our mission and shape our future; and to think differently, be creative, and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit.
His closing remarks note that the future provides us the opportunity to build a better version of who we are, and who future generations of students need UNCG to become.
“I have full faith and confidence in the leadership of this university, and the faculty and staff that bring our mission to life. We have the opportunity to define our future. I invite all of you to join us as coauthors of Our Shared Future.”
View the remarks and accompanying slide show presentation below:
