UNC President Margaret Spellings statement on proposed policy for academic centers:
“As a University, we are resolute in defending civil rights, facilitating opportunities for civil discourse, and teaching students through service- and experiential-learning. We do this in service to the citizens of North Carolina and in honor and celebration of leaders who have gone before. And we want to make sure this important work continues at all of our institutions.
The UNC Board of Governors sets policy for the University, and the role of the system office is to work with our 17 constituent institutions to implement these policies and the laws enacted by the General Assembly.
Today’s Educational Planning committee meeting was one part of a process to consider a policy proposed by a Board member regarding the University’s centers’ and institutes’ ability to represent parties in litigation outside of a law school clinical program.
The policy recommended by the committee today will go to the full Board for a vote in September.
This is a critical time in American higher education, as institutions and systems across the country are tackling issues of student success, accountability, and efficiency. Here in North Carolina, we need to educate more of our citizens to answer the demands of our growing, dynamic economy and the responsibilities of civic life. And the University will remain focused on our most urgent imperatives of greater educational access and opportunity for all North Carolinians.”