Spellings installed as president of UNC System
In her inaugural address, Margaret Spellings discussed the importance of delivering on Carolina's founding promise of providing education opportunities for everyone, regardless of wealth.
When the University of North Carolina was founded more than two centuries ago, North Carolina was leading the way in providing affordable higher education opportunities for the citizens of the new state.
As she was inaugurated as the 18th president of the University of North Carolina on Oct. 13, Margaret Spellings urged the state to become the leader in public education it once was, again.
“Today, we must lead again in recognizing quality higher education as a civil right — a vital part of our founding promise,” she said. “That means making education possible for all. That’s never been done — not here, not anywhere. But it’s plainly needed if our state and our people are going to thrive in the century ahead.”
Spellings, who took office March 1, was installed as president and took the oath of office at Carolina’s Memorial Hall to officially begin her tenure. As president, she leads North Carolina’s public higher education system of 17 campuses, including 16 universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics.
Consisting of nearly 225,000 students, the University of North Carolina graduates more than 30,000 students each year.
“North Carolina created a system like no other, with a depth and a breadth of mission and commitment to the citizens of the state that branches to every corner, every day,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol L. Folt.
Spellings comes to the University of North Carolina with extensive experience in both state and federal government. As senior advisor for then-governor of Texas George W. Bush, Spellings led the governmental and external relations for the Texas Association of School Boards for five years.
As U.S. Secretary of Education from 2005 to 2009, Spellings oversaw the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act and the creation of the Spellings Commission Report on Higher Education, which recommended a national strategy to guide colleges and universities in preparing students for the workforce.
“There is no doubt that we place our University System in the most capable hands in the United States of America,” said North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest. “We will continue to grow our University System to be the best system not just in America, but in the world.”
On behalf of the UNC System chancellors, Folt welcomed Spellings to her role and offered support for the new president.
“We see in you a proven leader with a big heart for higher education, for public education, for our passion for access and student success,” Folt said. “We love that you share our drive for uncompromising excellence and that you are not afraid to question the status quo in order to achieve a higher purpose.”
In her inaugural address, Spellings discussed the importance of delivering on the institution’s founding promise of providing education opportunities for everyone, regardless of wealth.
Every child, she said, should have the chance to pursue education beyond high school.
“Today, we are leaving behind thousands of capable students who never even apply to college because it doesn’t seem possible for them,” she said. “Low-income students enroll in college at barely half the rate of their wealthier peers, even when test scores and academic performance are the same. That’s a tragic waste of talent, and we absolutely must do something about that.
To fulfill this promise for rising generations, Spellings said, the University of North Carolina and the state must raise its expectations of public education.
“It’s time to lift our sights once again,” she said. “Together, we can make higher education our higher expectation for every person in North Carolina.”
