University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
EN-14: Participation in Public Policy

~~The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill led a national discussion about college costs, college retention and attainment, and the critical role of universities in spurring economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship. Former Chancellor Holden Thorp was among a dozen college presidents and higher education leaders invited to the White House in 2011 to discuss with President Barack Obama and other national leaders how campuses can become more affordable while producing more graduates. Chancellor Thorp served on the national Commission on Higher Education Attainment, which was created to chart a course for improving college retention and attainment and, in turn, restoring the nation’s higher education preeminence. Convened in October 2011, The National Commission on Higher Education Attainment was created with participation from the American Council on Education (ACE), the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and included members nominated by each association, representing two-year, four-year, public and private institutions. ~~ The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill launched “Innovate@Carolina: Important Ideas for a Better World,” a roadmap for innovation in science, business, medicine, nonprofits and academia. The focus has been on building a culture of innovation and a sustainable economy of opportunity. Former Chancellor Thorp served on the president’s National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which held its first national forum on the Chapel Hill campus. Thorp also co-authored “Engines of Innovation — The Entrepreneurial University in the 21st Century,” a UNC Press book that makes the case for the pivotal role of research universities as agents of societal change. Royalties support innovation at UNC. ~~ In 2012, Chancellor Thorp was appointed to the Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council, created by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. The council provides advice and recommendations on issues related to homeland security and the academic community, including: student and recent graduate recruitment; international students; academic research and faculty exchanges; campus resilience; homeland security academic programs; and cybersecurity.

~~ In spring 2013, the University of North Carolina was named one of eight project sites to improve the quality of undergraduate education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Association of American Universities (AAU) awarded $500,000 to bolster an ongoing initiative in the College of Arts and Sciences to enhance introductory science education in biology, chemistry, and physics. Innovative instructional techniques and technologies will flip the format of large classes so that lectures are viewed before coming to class and scheduled meeting times involve interactive activities. The grant will enable UNC to hire additional science education lecturers and provide training for both junior and senior faculty through the Center for Faculty Excellence. The AAU plans to create a national STEM network to share best practices.