HiceSchool Blog » Updates

A day in the life of Tim Tebow, circa 2009

Joe Hice — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:23:56 +0000

Watching yesterday’s NFL Playoff game where Denver quarterback and Gator great Tim Tebow continued to amaze brought back fond memories of The Gator Nation branding campaign at the University of Florida.

While Tebow was not directly involved in the campaign itself, his success — on the field and off — helped draw attention to the university and helped propel the campaign into the stratosphere. I may be a little prejudice here, but I believe that campaign is still the finest higher education branding campaign in the nation. No tricks, no gimmicks, pure Gator.

Anyway, we produced a little video back in 2009 that featured “A day in the life of” theme. Naturally, everyone thought it was a day in the life of Tim Tebow. That video still exists and is just another example of how one person, even one as big as Tim Tebow, can be part of something even bigger and have fun while doing so. Do you think Tebow is having fun today!

Take a look. I think you’ll enjoy. And Go Broncos!

A day in the life of . . . Tim Tebow. A day in the life of Tim Tebow

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Passion Rules!

State budget proposals concern UNC’s Tom Ross

Joe Hice — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:24:12 +0000

“The deep cuts proposed today by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education present an enormous challenge for the University, and more importantly, for our students. Permanent net cuts totaling nearly $483 million (17.4%) could not be absorbed without inflicting irreparable damage to our academic quality and reputation. To put this in context, a cut of this magnitude is equivalent to the entire state appropriations for UNC Asheville, UNC Greensboro, UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina University, and Winston-Salem State University combined. Because state dollars are the primary source of funding for basic academic programs, cuts at this level would require eliminating approximately 3,200 faculty and staff positions across the University and eliminating 240,000 class seats. As a result, students would find themselves in far larger classes and would find that courses they need for graduation are no longer offered or are only offered sporadically.

While we are grateful that the Subcommittee draft would fully fund enrollment growth in the first year and provide operating support for new buildings, state funding for need-based financial aid would shrink. That is a tremendous concern, given that 60% of our in-state undergraduates depend on need-based financial aid, and rapid tuition increases have put additional strain on students and their families. Other proposed cuts that would adversely impact the University include the loss of all state support for UNC Hospitals, the phased elimination of state support for UNC-TV, and the loss of funds critical for recruiting top graduate students to North Carolina. We are mindful that it is still early in the budget process and will continue to work with legislative leaders to preserve the quality of a UNC education.”

Laurie’s first AP/ESPN photo goes worldwide

Joe Hice — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 01:00:41 +0000

New Mexico says cut VPs . . . cut pay

Joe Hice — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:56:03 +0000

By James Monteleone
Journal Staff Writer
University of New Mexico regents say an initial budget proposal for 2012 doesn’t do enough to cut vice presidents and executive pay for administrators.
The regent finance committee on Monday saw a first draft of next year’s budget recommendations, which outline a $12 million shortfall beyond cuts already proposed through months of cost-containment meetings.
If no additional cuts are found, the budget would mean a 16 percent tuition increase for students next year, according to the data.
But regents are telling administrators to go back to the drawing board because the recommendations do not cut any of the university’s 28 executive vice presidents, vice presidents and associate vice presidents.
“I think we put the vice presidents on the table,” Regent Don Chalmers said. “I think, to show good leadership, we need to put executive salaries on the table.”
He said the proposal just delays needed reductions for another year. Despite the budget crisis, the proposal outlines $11.8 million in new spending — toward things such as retirement contributions, utility bills and faculty salaries — while proposing $7.3 million in cuts. To moderate tuition increases, the budget must cut more than it proposes to spend, he said.
Regents Jamie Koch and Gene Gallegos also said they expect to see additional administrative cuts.
But UNM doesn’t have much time to act. All but two vice presidents and associate vice presidents have contracts that expire in July. An administrator of less than five years must receive notice before April 1 if his or her contract will not be renewed, according to UNM policy. Administrators who have worked more than five years must have received notice before Feb. 1. Otherwise, contracts are extended into the next budget year. That notice will be part of the administration’s review of the regent recommendations, UNM spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said.
“We’re going to be looking at all the scenarios that the regents have suggested,” she said. “What form that takes, I can’t say right now. But all those questions they’re raising have got to be answered.”
The early budget, which has taken into account recommendations from three staff and faculty task forces, suggests weaning some non-academic funding.
That would include a $385,000 cut to athletics, which receives $1.2 million each year from the instructional budget. Other cuts would include a $1.2 million reduction to the university foundation and a $300,000 cut by eliminating faculty and staff tuition for continuing education courses.
The proposal recommends increased spending on faculty, offering more money for things like sabbaticals and faculty promotions.
The three regents insisted new administrative cuts be identified before the budget proposal is brought back to them.

NC State Strategic Plan Draft posted

Joe Hice — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:47:53 +0000

The NC State draft strategic plan is now available for campus review. A pdf version of the document is attached to this e-mail and the document may also be accessed at http://info.ncsu.edu/strategic-planning/draft-plan/.

We welcome and encourage your comments and advice on the draft strategic plan – please use the form available on the strategic planning website at http://info.ncsu.edu/strategic-planning/feedback/. Please provide constructive feedback to help us improve the document. All comments received by 3/25/11 will be considered.

After this plan has been approved, we will establish clear targets for each measure of accountability so that we can monitor our progress toward its implementation. We will set those targets in light of past trends, best practices, and comparisons with our peers.

Thank you for your continued involvement in the strategic planning process.

Sincerely,

Provost Warwick Arden and Dr. Margery Overton
Co-chairs of the Strategic Planning Committee

One of the Ten “Best Values” in higher education!

Joe Hice — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:14:25 +0000

NC State ranks #9 on this year’s Best Value list, based on a number of factors, including cost of attendance, financial aid availability, and academic quality.

100 Best Value Colleges 2011: Princeton Review, USA Today Ranks

www.suite101.com

On February 22, 2011, the Princeton Review and USA Today published the list of Best Value Public Schools and Best Value Private Schools.

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Passion Rules!

Higher Education Job Openings and Employment Surge in 2010

Joe Hice — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 12:46:06 +0000

With the all the concerns over budget issues throughout higher education, I was surprised to read the report on job openings. Apparently we’re having a boom!

Advertised job openings in higher education surged 44.4 percent in 2010 compared to a decline of 27.2 percent in 2009, according to the newly released Higher Education Employment Report from HigherEdJobs.

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UNC President comments on budget proposal

Joe Hice — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:44:42 +0000

UNC President Tom Ross today issued the following statement on Governor Beverly Perdue’s proposed 2011-13 state budget:

Given the economic climate and the size of the projected revenue shortfall, Governor Perdue had to make some very difficult decisions in order to balance her proposed state budget. All of us in the University appreciate the challenges she faced and are grateful that she identifies potential ways to avoid even more severe cuts that certainly would cause permanent damage to our institutions. We are particularly thankful that she recognizes the critical importance of our enrollment growth funding and need-based financial aid, although those needs would be only partially met, as well as operating reserves for new buildings. In addition, revenues from tuition increases would stay on the campuses to provide more need-based financial aid and help reduce the impact of proposed budget cuts.

As our state struggles to work its way out of this recession, affordable access to higher education has never been more important to North Carolina’s economic recovery and long-term competitiveness. That’s why I am deeply concerned that additional cuts of the magnitude proposed would place academic programs across the University in jeopardy and require the loss of more than 1,500 jobs. With fewer faculty, staff, and course sections, many more students would not be able to obtain the courses and academic services they need to graduate on time.

Given that the University has already absorbed $620 million in cuts and mandated reversions over the past four years, requiring the elimination of over 900 administrative positions, it is simply impossible to absorb further budget cuts without adversely affecting the quality of the academic experience for our students. While the Governor has proposed a small pool of funding for statewide repairs and renovations, I am also increasingly worried about the $2.1-billion backlog of unmet R&R needs across the University. University facilities are valuable state assets, and unless we are provided adequate resources to maintain them properly, we put that taxpayer investment and public safety at risk. We stand ready to work with the Governor and the legislature to preserve both access and educational quality.

http://bit.ly/dEn1gb

An American leader and Wolfpack grad!

Joe Hice — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:42:49 +0000

Gen. Ray Odierno to NC State grads: Greatness is discovered in goodness, service & character. http://bit.ly/f65KF9

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Passion Rules!

Consolidate & Privatize State Agencies

Joe Hice — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 19:17:36 +0000

That’s only one recommendation from NC Governor Bev Perdue. The others:

Eliminate, Review, Freeze.

Take a look. http://www.governor.state.nc.us/SetGovStraight/default.html

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Passion Rules!