Chancellor Gaber just did a Zoom call where she touched on a number of topics. She talked about the successful Exponential Campaign, and the impact that is going to have on the University. She talked about passing the 30,000 student mark, and how our goal is not to grow for growth’s sake, but to meet the needs of our region and state, which both continue to grow. Gaber talked about one of the drivers for UNC Charlotte’s growth is the connections we have with business and industry in our metro area, and how students can hop on the light rail and go uptown for their internships with leading corporations. This, coupled with our record level of research funding last year, will provide outstanding opportunities for education.
This was a 45 minute call, and participants were asked to send in questions in advance. They only used a couple of the questions, so I was surprised when one of them was about the name change. The host mentioned that people would like to see us change to Charlotte University, or the University of Charlotte, and how was she going to address that. Gaber grinned, and said that she was already familiar with the topic, and the “#droptheunc” people tweet at her regularly. She understands there is interest in this, but with Covid she has not been able to look into it closely. She acknowledged that Dubois did not feel like he could tackle this at the end of his tenure, and Gaber feels like we might need to bring somebody in to help us explore the idea.
Speaking to a group she will meet with annually, I would be disappointed if she was shooting from the hip and did not prepare for this call by hand-picking the questions she would take, since there would only be a couple. If so, and they chose the name change question, then I believe she is taking it seriously.
She ended the call with “Go Niners!” and threw a hand-pick sign. I think we are going to like her.
Why? The “somebodies” needed to help explore the idea are already here. We alumni and students are already HERE and been exploring this for YEARS. DROP THE UNC. UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE IS COMING.
Somebody should let her know about the STAMATS study we paid six figures for that told us we should change the name. It’s probably hidden away in a warehouse somewhere.
Why is to give her cover. They hire an agency that says we absolutely have to change the brand, and unlike when it happened before, we have a supportive chancellor now. It gives her cover, “expertise” in support of doing so, much like the feasibility study did for football. These things don’t happen on a whim. This is the most encouraging news I’ve seen in a long time (maybe ever?!!?) on this front.
We don’t want Chancellors making decisions like this unilaterally. They need to go through a process. If the support is there that we believe there is then it will happen, and yes, it gives her cover. Not everyone is going to like the change, or any change, but this is huge and the support needs to be visible and overwhelming.
Name change was a major topic in the search committee meetings. I have no doubt it was brought up during hiring process. We hired her from U of Toledo. That should tell you something. If we move to change our functional name not official name she and BoT can make that move and avoid any issues at the BoG or assembly. Bring in some expert group to say yes this is right move and let’s go.
Wow. From your report on the zoom call I think she is taking the topic very seriously. Sounds like she’s easing into it. For an executive at that level to mention bringing in consultants to assist in researching something is basically an open invitation for the university community to jump on this bandwagon and demand that happen.
I also believe that was not shooting from the hip.
It makes sense, there is precedent in history of both our institution and others in the system changing their names. This could easily happen.
All that being said.
Would the group be satisfied with Charlotte State University over Charlotte University or University of Charlotte?
I think we would face far less grumbling and pushback on Charlotte State University due to that naming scheme being in use by several other institutions in the system.
University of Charlotte. I do not want Charlotte State since they does not go with CLT. University of Charlotte would be like Cincy, Memphis, Tulsa, etc
What if, IF, the ones doing this study recommend no change. Is that it? Will the decision be accepted? We move on or renew efforts to get the name changed?
do no want Charlotte State - U of Charlotte all the way. Charlotte State sounds small time like Elizabeth City State University. Memphis went through a lot of work to drop the “State” from their name.
I would also be OK with keeping the name and just having a full branding change to University of Charlotte if it means the difference between that and no change at all
The University of Tulsa is a private school. If a school was founded long ago, it was more natural to use the name of the city it was located in.
My mother explained to me when I was elementary school NYU was a private school. I was in high school when I learned the University of Pennsylvania is a private school while watching the NCAA Tournament.
The name will change in time. With a Chancellor and an Athletic Director in favor of a change, it is inevitable.
