FACULTY SENATE MEETING
FEBRUARY .20,. 1990
REMARKS BY CHANCELLOR RICHARD EAKIN

Good afternoon.! would like to share some important
information received recently fromthe General Administration and
the Board of Governors. Atthe February 9, 1990 meeting of

the Board of Governors, President Spangler reported on the
initiation of a systemwide planning effort that would require each
of the 16 constituent institutions to review and possibly revise

its mission in orderto ensure thatthe University of North
Carolina will be positionedto deal withthe new challenges facing
higher education atthe close ofthis century andthe beginning
ofthe 2ist century. The President stated that the normal

update procedure for the long-range plan will be foregone this
year to allowthe universities to rethink their missions and

develop plans compatible with those missions.

While i cannot predictthe formatio be used in this

planning process, it would appear that our work of the past

eighteen months will position East Carolina University quite well

to complete the requirements of UNC system planning. President

 
Spangler announced that he hoped to complete the planning
process bythe end ofthe year.

Later inthis meeting, Sue Hodges, Director of Planning and
Institutional Research, will report onthe status of our planning.

East Carolina was awarded $100,000 to replace the roof on
the Willis Building atthe Board of Governors’ February 9, 1990
meeting. These funds, when joined withthe $500,000 allocation
for campus lighting improvements, bring the total allocation to
ECU for Capital lmprovements-Repairs and Renovations to
$600,000 or 10% ofthe total set aside for this purpose

systemwide.

President Spangler reported the results of the fourth
annual intercollegiate athletic reporistothe Board of Governors

at the February 9, 1990 meeting. His report singled out East

Carolina University for its significant improvement in the

graduation rate of football players. Two years ago, the ECU
football team had a 6-year graduation rate of 5%. Last year thai

rate improved significanily andthis yearthe G-year graduation

 
rate forthe 1983 freshman football class was 62%. The 5-year
rate forthe 1984 freshman football class was 50%.i am pleased
to reportthat the number of exceptions granted at East Carolina
for admissions of athletes inthe sports of football and men’s
basketball wentfrom an average oftwenty-five per year inthe
years 1980 through 1984 to eleven in 1986, fifteen in 1987, one
in 1988, and one in 1989. My goal isto have_no exceptions.
Applications for admission to universities in North Carolina
have beenthe subject of considerable attention inthe media
during the past few weeks. Generally, the number of
applications has decreased throughoutthe State of North
Carolina. A decrease was expected inthe number of traditional
applicants because ofthe sharp reduction inthe number of high

school graduates in North Carolinafrom 1989to 1990. The

decline inthe number of high school graduates will persist

through 1994 when 57,573 high school graduates are expected,
compared with 69,709 graduates in 1989.

Applications for admission to the 1990 freshman class total

 
6,981 compared with 8,075 atthe sametime last year. Because
of increases expected inthe number oftransfer admissions and
graduate student admissions, |! expect that total enrollment will
increase slightly for Fall, 1990. As you may recall, we have
instituted a pianto increase standards for undergraduate
admission, and we are continuing that plan inthe face of a
declining pool of high school graduates. To be successful, we
will need to redouble our efforts to recruit quality students.
During the past few weeks several ECU representatives
visited with guidance counselors from school systems in and
about the cities of Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Durham, and
Raleigh. Future trips are planned forthe Charlotte and
Fayetteville areas. These visits are intendedto acquaint
guidance counselors with the diversity of undergraduate
Offerings at ECU andthe opportunities for academic achievement
present here. The initial four meetings were very well received

by counselors. Much more needsto be done in ensuring that

counselors and students are up-to-date intheir understanding of

 
the advantages of attending East Carolina University. We may
seek your assistance in this important work.

| would be happyto answer questions.