Do the Math…or Not
When it comes to math performance, the United States has a pitiful record. Each year, about 1 million students enroll in college algebra and about 50 percent of those students…
Articles by Shannon Watkins
UNC-Chapel Hill Creates Commission to Battle ‘Invisible Racism’
To say that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has experienced racial tensions in the last few years would be an understatement. The most visible source of conflict…
‘Latin-What?’ Why UNC Should Abandon the Term ‘Latinx’
By now, most people who’ve attended a wealthy college—or those who tuned into the Democratic presidential debates—have likely heard or seen the word “Latinx.” The anglicized Spanish term is the…
Did You Know? UNC Pell Grant Students Have More Debt Than Their Peers
The federal Pell Grant program provides need-based grants to millions of college students every year—and costs the government over $30 billion annually. But even with that large investment, Pell Grant…
Goodbye Meritocracy, Hello…What?
Is meritocracy just? Just a short time ago, it was commonly accepted that it is the fairest way to determine who wins and who loses in the competition of college…
Never Let a Crisis Go to Waste: UNC BOG Hastily Enacts New Admissions Policy
It is a common saying that one should “never let a crisis go to waste.” Last week, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors exemplified this principle when they…
A Conversation with the Chancellor of UNC-Chapel Hill
On December 13th, 2019, Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz became the 12th chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prior to his appointment, he had been serving as interim…
How North Carolina Colleges Are Responding to COVID-19
The coronavirus pandemic has injected uncertainty into nearly every aspect of society—and higher education is no exception. As North Carolina’s leaders grapple with the challenges posed by curbing the virus’…
Did You Know? UNC Graduation Rates Have Increased, Many Still Very Low
Timely graduation rates reveal a lot about how well colleges are fulfilling their academic mission. If, for example, the majority of students don’t graduate in the traditional four-year period—or even…
A New Chapter in UNC Board Governance
It’s been a couple of months since Randy Ramsey became the chairman of the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. Since his appointment in October, Ramsey’s tenure has…