An Open letter from UNCW Faculty Leadership
May 05, 2014

A large amount of local media coverage has been focused on recent administrative turnover at UNCW and other related matters. The UNCW faculty has kept out of the controversy since for the most part, we are busy doing research, writing grants, attending conferences, directing Masters and Honors theses, developing curricula, and engaging in other uncompensated activities not covered in the typical nine month contracts. A number of other faculty members are teaching summer sessions under compressed time schedules.

However, to avert the possibility that our reticence to be distracted from our core educational mission maybe misconstrued as disengagement, we would like to make public the following statement.

In spite of the unprecedented challenges that we are facing presently at UNCW and more broadly in Higher Education, at the spring 2014 commencement ceremonies, UNCW conferred 5 doctoral degrees, 336 Master degrees and 1,940 undergraduate degrees. Of these, 110 students graduated with honors and a much larger number with distinction. UNCW has the second highest graduation rate in the UNC system and the most recent survey shows that six months after graduation, over 93% of these students are employed or pursuing higher degrees.

Behind each one of these students there is a story of sacrifice, dedication, hard work and success.

These stories would not have been possible without the indefatigable dedication of faculty who are the incubators of ideas through research and leaders of learning through their teaching.

These stories would not have been possible without the innumerable contributions of our staff that walk the extra mile to help insure student success at every step of the journey.

These stories would not have been possible without the perspicacity, perseverance and punctiliousness of our students or without the support of their families who understand that education is our future.

This is the story that should prelude every newspaper editorial, every television newscast and every media article related to education in NC.

This is UNCW, this is UNC!

This is the most precious asset of North Carolina.

We, the UNCW faculty, feel profound personal and collective responsibility for our critical part in sustaining the academic environment at UNCW. We remain 100% committed to the increasingly challenging work of maintaining quality of instruction, and expanding opportunities for students in our community and beyond.

Sincerely,
Gabriel Lugo
UNCW Faculty Senate President