Higher Education Works and the Harvard Club of the Research Triangle sponsored a forum on the future of public higher education in North Carolina recently at Research Triangle Park’s headquarters. University of North Carolina President Tom Ross, NC Community College System President Scott Ralls, state Sen. Josh Stein, D-Wake, and state Sen. Jeff Tarte, R-Mecklenburg, take part in the discussion.

“That 17-campus system, in conjunction with the community colleges, is bar none, unequivocally, make no mistake about it, our single most-important asset in the entire state of North Carolina,” says Tarte. “It is the economic engine that drives everything that we do. It’s what differentiates us.”

The speakers discuss the historical links between North Carolina’s public colleges and universities and the business community.  They share ideas for improving student success.

They also discuss challenges facing higher education in North Carolina.

“I fear that our state’s longstanding commitment to higher education is diminishing,” says Stein.  ”Over the past six years, per-student University funding is down 25 percent.  We remain one of the very few states in the country that are continuing to cut higher education budgets, where other states are reinvesting into higher ed.”