News & Messages

March BOT: Visits, goodbyes and accolades

UNC-Chapel Hill’s Board of Trustees discussed a plethora of items during its March meeting — ranging from UNC System President Margaret Spellings’ recent visit to the passage of the Connect NC Bond to an array of accomplishments by Carolina’s students, faculty and staff.

Other highlights from the full board and committee meetings:

  • Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Winston Crisp, history professor Jim Leloudis and American Indian Center Director Amy Locklear Hertel gave a progress report of the Task Force on UNC-Chapel Hill History that they co-chair. Crisp said the Carolina Hall exhibit, which will explore the history of the hall previously named for William Saunders, would be installed in August. A design company will be hired in April to create the exhibit. “This is, at times, overwhelming — and we feel a tremendous need to get it right,” Crisp said.
  • The board agreed to allow the Hunt Institute for Educational Leadership and Policy to disband from Carolina and operate independently. The action followed the recommendation from the University’s Center & Institutes Review Committee, which was asked by the UNC Board of Governors to review five centers, including the Hunt Institute.
  • Don Rose, director of Carolina Venture Services, Bryan McGann, Carolina’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence, business professor Randy Myer and Oakkar Oakkar, founder of Keona Health, talked about how a “Carolina Angel Network” would create investment opportunities for alumni while strengthening the University’s “entrepreneurial ecosystem”.
  • Connie Walker, president and general manager of WUNC Public Radio, gave a history of station from when it operated as a student-run station in the 1950s to today, which includes expanded service to Fayetteville, Fort Bragg and the Sandhills region.
  • David S. Routh, vice chancellor for development, reported new cash and commitments of $228.4 million as of March 20.