Spotlight On: Sharon Gaber, Chancellor, UNC Charlotte
September 2024 — In an interview with Invest:, Sharon Gaber, chancellor of UNC Charlotte, discussed the impact of gaining R1 research status, why philanthropic endeavors have been a cornerstone of the university’s values, and how it has established key partnerships that foster practical experience and job readiness for students.
What have been some key growth drivers that have significantly impacted UNC Charlotte over the past 12 months?
Regarding the drivers over the past 12 months, we have seen some amazing developments. We have experienced enrollment growth, research productivity, and fundraising success. All of these factors coming together at this point in higher education have placed us in a unique position. Many schools are struggling, either unable to grow or lacking success in one of these areas. I believe it is the cumulative impact of being located in Charlotte, a city within a state experiencing great business growth, with people moving to the region, which has been crucial. People are recognizing that we are growing as a university. We were founded in 1946, and we are really coming into our own, which is very exciting.
Given that UNC Charlotte is on the path to obtain R1 research status by early 2025, what impact regarding research do you expect this to have on the university and the region?
When I first arrived here, I met with several civic leaders, and, at the time, they noted that the city did not have a strong research university. My response was that we were indeed conducting research, but part of the challenge is being recognized as an R1 institution. The closest R1 university to Charlotte is the University of South Carolina, and within North Carolina, there is Duke, NC State, and Chapel Hill.
In early 2025, new classifications will be released, and the Chronicle of Higher Education has already listed UNC Charlotte as moving into the R1 status. We are excited about that. There may be one other university in North Carolina that also moves into R1 status, which is great. Interestingly, some universities across the country will lose their R1 status based on the new methodology . Currently, there are 146 R1 universities, and that number is expected to grow to around 160.
Our research productivity and growth over the past decade have driven this progress. We have gone from doing about $24 million in funded research to $92 million this past year. That growth is significant. Why is it important? It means we have students and faculty who are actively pursuing funded research, which contributes to economic development. For instance, bringing in a million dollars from the federal government means hiring people and spending that money in the local economy, creating a multiplier effect. Additionally, we have innovations being developed, patents being filed, and startup companies emerging from our research. This is exactly what you want when you have a high research university; it has a substantial economic impact on the region.
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What has been the key to attracting a larger student body, and how have student demographics evolved as a result?
We have been consistent in promoting UNC Charlotte as a great university with a rising reputation. For the first time, US News & World Report ranked us as a Top 100 public university (#96), which we are very excited about. Coupled with that, the UNC system has not increased tuition for eight years, meaning in-state students’ tuition has remained flat. This is a great deal, especially for students concerned about student debt or taking out loans. It is a wonderful opportunity to receive an outstanding education at an affordable price.
Our enrollment continues to grow. We achieved record enrollment again this semester. We are also proud of our engineering programs, which are among the largest in the state, and the strong relationships our students have with the local business community. About 60-65% of our alumni stay in the metro area, and around 70-80% remain in North Carolina. This means we are not only educating students from across the state but also fueling the largest city in North Carolina with talented graduates. Students also get a light rail pass as part of their student CATS All-Access pass, which has allowed for greater mobility as well.
What is the key to training young professionals and preparing them for jobs in the region?
It is crucial to have a close connection with industry, and we have a history of maintaining that relationship. For example, nearly 6,000 of our students completed internships last year. These internships are typically at the junior or senior level, which is a great opportunity for students to gain practical experience in their chosen fields. Not every school offers such widespread opportunities for students to engage in career preparation.
Moreover, our proximity to Uptown Charlotte facilitates these connections. We host many professionals on campus who engage with our students through senior design and Capstone projects. These collaborations are particularly strong in our College of Engineering and the Belk College of Business, where industry professionals in banking, finance, marketing, and real estate frequently interact with our students. This strong relationship with local businesses encourages these companies to hire our students.
What are the main areas of focus for UNC Charlotte in terms of community advocacy, philanthropy, and other such initiatives?
Philanthropy is indeed a significant focus for us. As a relatively young university with over 31,000 students, we recognize the need to build up our endowment to support our students adequately. One primary area of focus is scholarships, which help reduce student debt at graduation. This is critically important, especially as we aim to keep tuition flat and make education more affordable.
In addition to scholarships, we are focused on funding professorships to retain top talent, especially as we move toward achieving R1 status. Retaining the best faculty is essential as we become more competitive. We are also investing in facilities, research opportunities, and new centers. This fall, we will enter the public phase of our next fundraising campaign, and we are excited to report that we are more than halfway to our goal. We have been averaging over $60 million per year in fundraising over the past several years, which positions us well to continue building our endowment.
What major challenges or opportunities do you see in the education sector, and how is UNC Charlotte preparing to address them?
One of the significant challenges facing higher education today is the general distrust of the sector. We are addressing this by keeping tuition flat for eight years, which is quite remarkable given the rising costs in private institutions. We have also managed to reduce student debt at graduation, which is critically important. Many students graduate with significant debt, but by increasing scholarship funding, we can continue to decrease that burden.
We are also making an effort to better connect with the community and demonstrate the value of higher education. For instance, our College of Education is a leader in literacy education, and our dean is actively involved with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. We want to show that higher education has a real value, not only for individual students but also for the community.
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