The Raleigh Report
From the Office of Representative Ray Warren
Over the weeks, I have written extensively about what we in the General Assembly are doing to improve education. I have lengthy reports on local education and our community colleges.
This week, I want to share with you one of the surest long-term investments we can make for the people of North Carolina — higher education. There is clear and convincing evidence to show that on the whole better educated people earn more and give more back to their society.
We need to make certain that everyone in this state who has the ability and interest in attending college can afford to do so and that once they’re there they receive the best education we can give them.
Over the years, we have made substantial investments in the UNC system and the university’s appropriation this fiscal year is nearly $2.7 billion. I want to share a few of the ways over the past biennium we have tried to make college more accessible and more affordable while also improving the quality of our universities. We also gave the system $15 million to use toward campus safety improvements.
I welcome any of your thoughts and comments about my work for you. Please feel free to call or write if you have a concern. For those who continue to stay in touch with me while out and about, at church, on the phone or by email — I take your comments seriously and I am grateful for your ideas. I hope my assistance and/or keeping you informed has been of benefit to you.
Accessibility
• Our university system continues to grow and as it does, schools need more money to pay the basic costs of this growth. This year, the General Assembly has agreed to set aside nearly $35 million to help the universities cover the costs of growth.
• In addition to the EARN Scholars program, we increased access to our world-class universities by increasing financial aid in the UNC system by nearly $28 million and setting aside another $8.6 million for state scholarships and grants. We appropriated $1.75 million in tuition grants for half-time students
• We enhanced our “529” college savings fund by allowing more people to contribute more money each year to the tax-free accounts.
• We set aside $6 million to expand the Learn & Earn program and increased funding for the online component of the program by $12.5 million. Learn & Earn allows high school students to earn college credits while they are still in high school. High school students can even earn an associate’s degree online, from their high school, or at a local community college.
The program is free and allows students to prepare for college or work with no more than an extra year of high school at no additional cost.
Faculty
• As we did our public school teachers, we also gave university faculty and professional staff an 8 percent pay raise so that we can attract the best educators for our students.
• The state budget includes $4.6 million in matching money to establish distinguished professorships on each of the state’s 16 constituent universities. The Spangler Foundation will provide the remainder of the money.
• $3 million for a faculty recruiting and retention fund to attract and keep university professors.
Programs and Facilities
As our state and our university system continue to grow, we need more buildings and new programs to provide the level of service expected of one of the nation’s premier institutions. Here are some of the highlights of our expansion of the university system.
Medical Schools Expansion
• $1.5 million for planning the expansion of the medical schools at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and East Carolina University. The proposed additional medical students will spend their third and fourth years in clinical rotations in Charlotte, Asheville, and selected cities in Eastern North Carolina.
Dental School Expansion
• The General Assembly agreed to $94 million in spending to plan and operate a new dental school at ECU, which will have up to ten clinics serving patients in underserved areas of the state. ECU plans to heavily recruit students from rural areas and will encourage students to practice in those areas.
The dental school is set to open by 2010 at the earliest.
North Carolina Research Campus
• $22.5 million to pay lease costs, hire faculty and staff, and purchase equipment and supplies for UNC programs located at the North Carolina Research Campus at Kannapolis. The research center is a collaboration between private investors, business and the university system.
Nanoscience and Nanoengineering School
• We appropriated $5 million for the Joint Graduate School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering Building at the Millennium Campus in Greensboro. The 95,000-square- foot facility will be jointly operated by North Carolina A&T State University and the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. We also gave the school $3 million more for operations.
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• North Carolina is a leader among states in energy efficiency efforts. Over the past two sessions, the General Assembly committed $76.2 million to plan and build the Energy Production Infrastructure Center at UNC-Charlotte. Students at the center will learn how to make better and more efficient power plants.
Ray Warren represents the 88 House District in the N.C. General Assembly.
Contacts for Warren:
Legislative Assistant to Rep. Ray Warren:
Molly Freeman
Phone: 919-715-8361
E-mail:
N.C. House District 88 Representative:
Ray Warren
Phone: 919-715-8361
E-mail:
— Submitted by N.C. Rep. Ray Warren.
