Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber Shares Updates With Charlotte Board Of Trustees

Chancellor Sharon Gaber shared updates aligned to five focus areas.

Commencement: Approximately 3,100 degrees and graduate certificates were conferred during three December ceremonies.
Spring Enrollment: Spring enrollment reached a record 30,019 students, surpassing 30,000 for the first time in a spring term. Undergraduate enrollment increased by nearly 1,200 students and total headcount increased by more than 950, representing 3% growth.
Transfer Growth: Transfer enrollment increased 12% compared to last spring.
Graduate Enrollment: Growth in domestic graduate enrollment helped offset continued declines in international enrollment.
Online Growth: Charlotte Online now accounts for 9.7% of total enrollment, up from 7.5% last spring.

NDI3 Launch: The University launched the National Defense Intelligence & Innovation Institute to serve as a hub for defense-related research, partnerships, technology transition and workforce development.
NSF Engines: UNC Charlotte will host a National Science Foundation site visit as part of its bid for an award valued at up to $160 million over 10 years, focused on modernization of the energy grid across a 36-county region in North and South Carolina.
NCInnovation: UNC Charlotte has received more NCInnovation funding for more projects than any other institution in the UNC System.
Research Awards: Recent successes include a $560,000 NSF award supporting single-cell measurement research and the transition of the Center for Identification Technology Research (CITeR) to UNC Charlotte as the lead institution, bringing more than $326,000 in NSF funding plus $1 million annually in memberships.

Online Rankings: UNC Charlotte ranked #4 nationally and #1 in North Carolina for its online bachelor’s program in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, with additional strong rankings across graduate education, nursing and engineering.
Community Engagement: The University received reaffirmation of its Carnegie Community Engagement Classification.
Strategic Plan Refresh: The 10-year strategic plan refresh is progressing and will be presented in April for board approval. The updated plan includes four focus areas centered on student success, research excellence, statewide impact and national distinction.
Board of Governors Presentation: Gaber presented to the UNC System Board of Governors Committee on Strategic Initiatives in January on UNC Charlotte’s recruitment and retention of high-achieving students.

Campaign Progress: The For the Love of Charlotte campaign has reached nearly 77% of its $500 million goal.
Campaign Performance: The University has secured a yearly average of $69 million in the current campaign cycle compared to a yearly average of $23.9 million in the prior cycle, including 51 gifts over $1 million and $245 million in principal gifts.
Scholarships and Endowments: Since launch, scholarships awarded have increased to 2,600 valued at nearly $10 million, and 17 new endowed professorships have been established.
Pipeline Growth: Major gift conversations have grown from $140 million two years ago to $289 million, with $40 million closed this fiscal year.
Upcoming Events: Upcoming fundraising events include the Judy Rose Let Me Play Luncheon on March 17 and the Niner Nation Gives Campaign from March 31 to April 2.

Syllabus Resolution: A December UNC System resolution classifies course syllabi as public records and requires publicly searchable access beginning in the fall semester.
CPHE Accreditation: NC Charlotte is part of the initial pilot cohort of 10 institutions pursing accreditation with the Commission for Public Higher Education.
Student Activity Fees: A proposed UNC System regulation would prohibit the use of student activity fees for activities or services not generally available to the entire student body, including legal aid.
Enrollment Funding: Enrollment Funding is the UNC system’s only budget priority item. UNC Charlotte is owed $8 million in enrollment funding for last year and $22 million for this year due to the absence of a finalized state budget.