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Board of Governors initiates statewide forums |
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Thursday, 20 September 2007 |
by LAUREN LAWSON
News Reporter
As part of the new University of North Carolina Tomorrow initiative launched by the UNC Board of Governors, 11 listening forums will be held from Sept. 10 through Aug. 10, 2008 throughout North Carolina.
UNC Tomorrow is an 18-month initiative focusing on the ways in which the 16 university campuses across North Carolina can help fulfill the needs of the state over the next 20 years.
“This
initiative will help create a more strategic way to plan for North
Carolina…for needs now and needs coming down the pipeline,” Deputy
Executive Director Tony Caravano said.
 Since his appointment, Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock has spent many hours with state officials concerning the needs of the city and the university. File Photo |
Caravano said the commission has worked with groups throughout North
Carolina for these forums including universities, local governments,
non-profit organizations, and the media.
These forums are meant for the universities and community members to
have a time and place to voice their opinions and ideas on the needs of
the state.
Chancellor Kenneth E. Peacock addressed the community, saying “Appalachian is your university and we want to meet your needs.”
Peacock said some of the needs of concern now include the high school
drop out rate, the number of qualified health professionals and
sustainable development.
“We sometimes forget the challenges of the region just because our
economic standards in Boone are good…if you drive out a little ways,
its not always that way,” Peacock said.
Issues such as the growth of Appalachian State University, sustainable
growth and green spaces, and the relationship between the Town of Boone
and the university were reoccurring themes during the
SGA Voter Forum Sept. 10.
Mayor Loretta Clawson said, “One of the things facing Boone is not
enough land…but Appalachian does a wonderful job with green spaces and
trees.”
Peacock said in five to 10 years he sees Appalachian and the community
working together on programs such as “strong health profession
programs, visibility of our entrepreneurial programs, and [Appalachian]
doing more with graduates.”
After the forums and information from blogs, surveys, letters and
emails are compiled, it will be passed to the Board of Governors in
January and they will decide how to address the needs proactively.
“They want to hear the people for themselves on these issues and needs,” Peacock said.
Caravano said the list of how to achieve these goals will go before the Board in May.
“The goal at the end of this is to be the most responsive we can be. We
hope to create a long list that the university should address and
narrow down,” Caravano said.
While this initiative, as of now, is planned for only this year,
Caravano said the public forums are something that might occur every
year from now on.
“We hope in the end to put into place mechanisms to sustain this over time,” he said.
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