In his November 13 presentation, independent auditor Dr. Howard Bunsis
(Professor of Accounting, Eastern Michigan University) posed the
question to everyone in the audience, “Why is a university with a AAA
bond rating and billions in reserves considering layoffs and cutting
budgets?” UNC Chapel Hill learned this week that all three
independent bond rating agencies -- Moodys, S&P, and Fitch -- gave it
an outstanding AAA bond rating, placing it in a small minority of
universities at the top rank. Not only that, the University currently
has $1.9 billion in unrestricted reserves, and $1 billion cash on
hand. Bunsis made it clear that one of the things the University is
dedicated to is spending its money on high-level administrators and
their salaries. From 2016-2024, the number of administrators in Chapel
Hill has increased by 51.1%, but the full-time faculty by only 10.8%,
and the staff has been shrunk by 5.3%. Over the same period,
administrators’ salaries in the UNC budget have increased by 106%, but
the instructional budget only by 36.2%, and research budget by
41.7%. Yet the Chapel Hill administration and its Board of Trustees
are seeking to implement a $70 million austerity cut.
Michael Palm, President of the AAUP chapter, UNC Chapel Hill, stated:
“This audit lays bare the truth: any cuts to programs or personnel at
UNC-Chapel Hill are the result of political pressure, not financial
constraints. UNC’s budgeting decisions must be transparent and
inclusive of students, faculty, and staff as well as accountants,
lawyers, and administrators.”
Read the full press release
and watch the
presentation revealing
that the university is in stellar financial condition, has a huge
buildup in administrators and their salaries, but seeks to impose a
$70 million cut on its lowest-paid staff.
UNC Audit Analysis Presentation
Thursday, 11/13 @ 5:30 pm, Kerr Hall 1001
Please join us in person or virtually to receive the findings from
Howard Bunsis's independent audit of UNC finances. Bunsis's analysis
equips us with data to challenge ServiceFirst austerity measures to
reduce faculty and staff numbers, salaries, and benefits.
The presentation begins at 5:30 pm and will be followed by a Q&A. The
main entrance to Kerr will be unlocked until 5:45, though facilitators
will be available to let you in if you're arriving late.
The event is especially exciting as it represents a collaborative
effort between UE 150 (grad students and staff workers), UNC-AAUP
(us), and TransparUNCy (undergraduates).
Registration here! https://tinyurl.com/2025-ue-aaup-audit
No Compact for Higher Ed at UNC
After the rally Friday led by Sunrise UNC and other student groups,
Chancellor Roberts said at the Faculty Council meeting that afternoon
that UNC would not agree to the Trump administration's Compact for
Higher
Ed.
See the statement we distributed at the
meeting.
No new accreditor for UNC (at least for now)
At the Faculty Council meeting, Provost Dean said UNC-CH would go with
the same accreditor in 2027, rather than switching to
CPHE,
which met with applause. Last week the UNC-Charlotte AAUP chapter
published this powerful letter to the
editor
outlining the stakes of the CPHE.
Discriminating Against Dissent
Read the AAUP-MESA report on The Weaponization of Civil Rights Law to
Repress Campus Speech on
Palestine.
The NC AAUP provides free legal help for members
If you feel you need to speak to a lawyer about violations of your
rights or about the state of the law surrounding academic freedom and
free speech, contact https://www.aaupnc.org/.
Chapter Organizing
We're identifying chapter liaisons for departments and academic
units. If you'd like to volunteer, contact Erik Gellman at
esgellman@gmail.com.
If you would like to help with these weekly updates or help maintain
and update our chapter's website and social media, please contact
Michael Palm at mwpalm@gmail.com.
And everyone is welcome to join our weekly working meetings Fridays
from Noon-1pm, even if just to say hi and see what's going on.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89195114865?pwd=qf2kY5jKF6utphBBKn4ghkszHa6lLT.1
BSM Town Hall
Monday 10/27 6pm, Hitchcock Multipurpose Room, Stone Center
The Black Student Movement will be hosting a Town Hall on Monday,
October 27th, at 6:00 PM in the Hitchcock Room of the Stone
Center. The objective of this event is to strengthen and unify the
Black community at Carolina. During the Town Hall, we will discuss
matters related to Upendo Lounge, clarify any confusion, and answer
any questions students, staff, and alumni may have. We are inviting
all Black organizations, faculty, and alumni to join us in this
important conversation. This space was not only taken from BSM as an
organization but from us collectively as a community. So, we're
looking for your support, presence, and engagement as we work together
to reclaim and restore it.
Worker Health Care Plan Teach-In
Tuesday 10/28 6pm
UE 150 is hosting a virtual teach-in on the current State Health Plan
and rising costs in NC. RSVP
here.
AAUP Webinar in support of the upcoming 11/7 Day of Action
Tuesday 10/28 5-6pm
AAUP members, check your email for a link to register.
Day of Action for Higher Ed!
Friday 11/7 1:15pm, Polk Place
Join Sunrise UNC and other campus groups! As students organize for
educational access and affordability, the freedom to learn, campus
safety, and a better future, the AFT and AUUP along with cross-sector
higher education unions are standing shoulder to shoulder in
solidarity.
Academic Freedom at the next Faculty Council meeting
Friday 11/7 3-5pm, Kerr Hall
Chapter members will present on academic freedom—what it means, its
history, and the urgent need to protect it today—at the next Faculty
Council Meeting, Friday, November 7, from 3-5pm, 1001 Kerr Hall. Join
us!
Report on UNC Audit
Thursday 11/13 5:30-8pm, Carr Hall
Howard Bunsis will share the findings from his independent audit of
UNC. Our chapter secured a grant from the NC AAUP to help fund this
audit. Howard will report for an hour, followed by 90 minutes
of Q&A. Co-sponsored by UE150 and TransparUNCy.
3 petitions to sign rejecting Trump Loyalty Oaths for Higher Ed
Our chapter voted to collectively endorse this one, but you can also
sign as an individual.
DTH Faculty Free Speech Survey
Fill out the DTH Faculty Free Speech Survey!
Reclaim the Narrative: Higher Ed for the Common Good
Wednesday 10/29, 2-4pm
The AAUP, Stand Together, and PEN America invite you to join Reclaim
the Narrative: Higher Ed for the Common
Good,
a two-hour training webinar will equip you with practical tools to
tell your story and amplify the value of higher education in public
life.
Higher education is under coordinated attack, from funding cuts and
DEI bans to assaults on tenure, free speech, and the safety of
international scholars and students. Our individual stories of how our
work in higher education makes a difference are the most powerful
antidote to the misinformation campaign against higher
education. Truth is resistance. Every story we can share with the
public pushes back against false narratives that paint higher ed as
elitist and broken.
In this training, you'll learn how to:
- Write powerful op-eds and letters to the editor
- Use social media to reach wider audiences
- Prepare for media interviews with confidence
- Adapt these materials to host Reclaim the Narrative workshops on
your own campus
AAUP members can register
here
to attend. Together, we can reclaim the story of higher education as a
public good essential to democracy.
Chapter Organizing
We're identifying chapter liaisons for departments and academic
units. If you'd like to volunteer, contact Erik Gellman at
esgellman@gmail.com.
If you would like to help with these weekly updates or help maintain
and update our chapter's website and social media, please contact
Michael Palm at mwpalm@gmail.com.
And everyone is welcome to join our weekly working meetings Fridays
from Noon-1pm, even if just to say hi and see what's going on:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89195114865?pwd=qf2kY5jKF6utphBBKn4ghkszHa6lLT.1