May 2020 Newsletter
Dear Colleagues and Friends of UNC Charlotte:
This past weekend I was all set to preside over the final four commencement ceremonies in my capacity as Chancellor of UNC Charlotte. Over the course of my 15-year tenure, I’ve been privileged to confer degrees and certificates upon more than 96,000 undergraduate and graduate students in nearly 70 graduation ceremonies. We thought it fitting that commencement would mark the end of our time here as it symbolizes what those of us in higher education try to be about every day — preparing students to enjoy better and more meaningful lives.
Unfortunately, as you know very well, an unanticipated global pandemic has wreaked havoc on our commencement plans, and pretty much everything else.
In typical Niner Nation fashion, our campus community has responded to this latest challenge with unity, determination, flexibility, and a positive “can-do” attitude. Without question, our graduating seniors were disappointed that we weren’t able to watch them cross the stage in person, but we celebrated with them in an online ceremony this past weekend. We were even able to incorporate the ringing of the old bell into the virtual celebration…but sadly, I missed the opportunity to tell my famous (or infamous) joke about how each complete ringing of a bell requires one “ding” and one “dong.” I know long-time faculty members were disappointed they couldn’t enjoy that joke one more time! At any rate, we’ll look forward to celebrating with our graduates in person later this year when the world opens back up for business.
Other plans for this spring semester included an observance of the one-year anniversary of our very darkest hour as a University. Those April 30 remembrance activities were also upended by COVID-19, but we managed to put together a meaningful program honoring those who were lost and directly impacted, and expressing appreciation for the overwhelming support we received from the Charlotte community in the days, weeks, and months following. This program was shared virtually through our social media channels and on our website. If you were not able to catch the initial broadcast, a recording is available at ninernationremembers.charlotte.edu.
Notwithstanding a disappointing “final lap” during the Spring 2020 semester, my tenure as Chancellor has been incredibly rich and rewarding. Lisa and I are proud to have represented this exceptional institution, with many exciting things to look back upon that have happened during our time here. These include things such as our 43% enrollment growth to nearly 30,000 students, our $1.2B program of facility construction and renovation, the arrival of light rail, the initiation of a football program and the establishment of a marching band, the advancement of our diversity and inclusion initiatives, the growth in our inventory of doctoral programs to 24, topping $50M annually in externally-funded research grants, and the completion of the largest private fundraising program in our history (more than $200 million). And we look forward to the opportunity to see the opening of our new Science Building and the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in the spring of 2021.
The important advancements that have occurred at UNC Charlotte have only been possible with the commitment of a capable and experienced administrative team, a dedicated and accomplished faculty and staff, talented and resilient students, and a large number of individuals and institutions in the community who have contributed their time and treasure to build UNC Charlotte. We can’t thank you enough!
The corporate and non-profit leadership in Charlotte and in the region generally have also been critical partners in the institutional development of UNC Charlotte. I have been privileged to represent the University on important volunteer boards that have been essential partners in the growth and maturation of the city we serve, including the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Charlotte Chamber, Charlotte Regional Partnership, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Center City Partners, and University City Partners.
Although there is always danger in naming a few in the midst of many, we would not be where we are today without the extraordinary philanthropy of Darla and Craig Albert, the late Irwin “Ike” Belk, Tim and Johnny Belk, Smoky and Margaret Bissell, John Cato, Dale Halton and Fred Wagner, Gene and Vickie Johnson, Fred Klein and Don Childress, Leon and Sandra Levine, Robert Niblock, and Jerry Richardson. What could be more gratifying than to watch two former student body presidents and now successful alumni, Demond Martin and Karen Popp, step forward to name our Student Union and to establish other initiatives that directly invest in our students’ future?
On campus, I’m especially grateful to my Cabinet, the folks in the Chancellor’s Office who make sure I’m pointed in the right direction every day, and the members of the Board of Trustees, the Foundation Board, the college and program advisory boards, and the Alumni Association who have contributed significant amounts of volunteer time and invaluable advice and support over the years. We have enjoyed an unusually productive and collaborative culture at UNC Charlotte that has been made possible by the leaders of our Faculty and Staff Council and our Student Government Association leadership who have always wanted what was best for our students and the University generally.
Although there will always be challenges that accompany being part of a large and complex University of North Carolina System, I have valued and appreciated the support that UNC Charlotte has enjoyed from the UNC Board of Governors and the five University Presidents I’ve worked for — Molly Broad, Erskine Bowles, Tom Ross, Margaret Spellings, and Bill Roper.
Lisa and I now plan to move south, choosing to live at Reynolds Lake Oconee about an hour and a half east of Atlanta. Although we love Charlotte, this move gives us a chance to be a little closer to our oldest son and daughter-in-law and our new grand-twins in Atlanta, and yet still within a reasonable distance from Charlotte where our two other kids and their significant others will continue to live. It will also give Chancellor #5, Dr. Sharon Gaber, the space to establish her leadership identity at the University and in the greater community. Once we are past the disruption of COVID-19 and air travel makes sense again, I’ll keep busy with some higher ed consulting, with plenty of honey-do’s from Lisa for me to accomplish at home…and an occasional class in “applied physics,” hoping to bring my golf score down into the 80s on a regular basis.
In my 2006 Installation Address, I made the observation that, “There should be no confusion about what we do in higher education. Our business is opportunity. Our currency is human capital. We deal in the most fundamental and renewable resource of this or any century — knowledge. And our balance of payments is always in the black, helping to convert those with potential and promise into productive citizens who form the backbone of our economy and our democracy.” Those words mean as much to me today as they did 15 years ago, and I hope this University will continue to enjoy your support as the 5th Chancellor and her team work to fulfill this critical mission.
Again, Lisa and I jointly want to offer our sincere thanks for your many years of support. Go Niners!
Cordially,
Philip L. Dubois
Chancellor
And soon to be Chancellor Emeritus!