The Martin Center’s president, Jenna Robinson, penned a piece for The Carolina Journal highlighting the growing financial pressures on universities in North Carolina and nationwide. She explained that demographic decline has left fewer high school graduates entering four-year institutions, cutting deeply into tuition revenue. In North Carolina, this problem is worsened by the UNC System’s enrollment-based funding model, which reduces state appropriations when student numbers fall. As Robinson noted, this means several UNC campuses now face inevitable budget cuts.
Drawing on the Martin Center’s new report, “Growth Beyond the Classroom: A Decade of Staffing and Spending in the UNC System,” Robinson argued that the solution lies in curbing administrative bloat rather than sacrificing academics. She emphasized that trimming bureaucracy is essential if UNC is to protect its tuition freeze, preserve affordability, and keep resources focused on students and faculty. To read the full piece, visit The Carolina Journal’s WEBSITE.