UNC Board of Governors adopts resolution honoring UNC Charlotte
The UNC Board of Governors at its meeting Friday, Feb. 27, adopted unanimously a resolution to honor UNC Charlotte on the 50th anniversary of legislation to establish the University as a constituent member of the UNC system.
Longtime supporter Ike Belk was a state senator in 1965, and he introduced the legislation that would make UNC Charlotte the fourth institution in the consolidated University of North Carolina system. He orchestrated a coalition that convinced 49 out of 50 senators to endorse the bill that transformed Charlotte College into the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
W. Louis Bissette Jr., vice chairman of the Board of Governors, read the below resolution.
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
HONORING
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE
ON THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LEGISLATION ESTABLISHING IT
AS A CONSTITUENT INSTITUTION OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, on September 23, 1946, the Charlotte Center opened as one of a generation of educational institutions founded in metropolitan areas of the United States immediately after World War II in response to rising education demands generated by the war, its technology, and the educational needs of veterans; and
WHEREAS, in 1949, Charlotte’s education and business leaders, led by Bonnie Cone, long aware of the area’s unmet needs for public higher education, moved to have the Charlotte Center taken over by the city school district and operated as Charlotte College, offering the first two years of college courses; and
WHEREAS, On March 2, 1965, the North Carolina General Assembly approved legislation sponsored by State Senator Irwin Belk establishing the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as a constituent institution campus of the University of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is the fastest growing constituent institution of the University of North Carolina and the largest public university in the Charlotte region; it currently offers 80 Bachelor’s degree programs, 64 Master’s degree programs, and 21 Doctoral degree programs; more than 900 full-time faculty comprise the University’s academic departments; the fall 2014 enrollment exceeded 27,200 students; and it boasts more than 110,000 living alumni; and
WHEREAS, on July 7, 1972, the historic first meeting of the new University of North Carolina Board of Governors took place at UNC Charlotte; and
WHEREAS, the UNC Charlotte Board of Trustees and entire campus community welcome the UNC Board of Governors to campus for its February 27, 2015 meeting;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina recognizes and honors the founders of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for their vision, commends the University for its contributions to North Carolina and its people, extends congratulations to the institution on the fiftieth anniversary of the legislation creating the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and looks forward to continuing service by the University on behalf of the people of North Carolina and the nation.
This Resolution shall be effective upon its adoption on this the 27th day of February, 2015.