Citizens for Higher Education
We put UNC’s political will to work.
Even with our state’s tradition of the public
university, we can’t take commitment to higher
education for granted.
That’s why Citizens for Higher Education
harnesses the political will behind your
University and puts it
to work. In bipartisan
fashion, we back
candidates and policies
that support public
higher education.
Though the
amount the state
spends on universities
has risen, other
spending is growing
faster. Spending
on universities has
declined from 17
percent to 12 percent
of the state budget
since 1985 – education
is being crowded out.
State universities
rely on money from
the legislature, tuition, private donations and
research grants. Yet state money accounted for
just 22 percent of UNC-Chapel
Hill’s revenue in 2005-06. That’s
why we push for more.
At the core of the University is an engaged,
productive faculty. Yet the average faculty salary
at Chapel Hill ranks at the 49th percentile when
compared with peer institutions, even after a 7
percent increase last year. Among faculty who left
the College of Arts
and Sciences last year,
the average salary gain
was 51 percent.
Faculty retention
has real economic
consequences. Labs
and start-up costs
typically amount to
$250,000 to $500,000
for an assistant
professor. On average,
each faculty member
attracts $185,000
a year in research
dollars. So it is
essential that we
attract – and keep
– quality faculty.
Citizens for
Higher Education: We help UNC compete for
funds, for the best students, for the best faculty
and the best research.
In this global economy, our
state demands it.
For more information or to become a member,
go to www.citizensforhighered.org or call 919-510-9240.
