The year ahead: Karrie Dixon, ECSU chancellor
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The year ahead: hopes, dreams and expectations
The News & Observer asked a number of prominent people from around North Carolina to write short essays outlining their hopes, wishes and/or expectations for 2020 and the coming decade. These are their responses.
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This essay is one of a series written by Triangle leaders and experts about their visions for a new decade.
As we enter the next decade, I have great hopes that higher education will continue to transform lives by providing access to an affordable, quality education to all citizens. A quality education will not only prepare students for a global workforce, it will also create opportunities for upward mobility, which will transform families and communities.
I am glad the North Carolina General Assembly made it a priority to reduce college debt by creating the NC Promise Tuition Plan. Legislators selected three University of North Carolina System institutions to participate, including Elizabeth City State University. This program enables ECSU to provide access to a quality education at an affordable price to NC residents.
As we go forward, universities must intentionally respond to the needs of industry and interests of students. For example, our signature aviation program addresses both needs. Institutions must be agile and develop attractive degree programs to prepare students for a global workforce while providing different pathways to degree completion. We must also provide a safe and engaging learning environment for all students.
In 2020, I would like to see a continued commitment toward identifying talent to lead the UNC System and its excellent and diverse institutions. Stable leadership dedicated to the success of North Carolina’s public higher education system is critical to our future.
As a constituent institution of the UNC System, ECSU will continue to be the economic engine for northeastern North Carolina.
Karrie G. Dixon is the chancellor of Elizabeth City State University, one of five historically black colleges and universities in the UNC System. Before leading ECSU, she oversaw the Division of Academic and Student Affairs for the UNC System’s 17 institutions.
2020 will be a year full of important news. For smart, reliable and timely coverage of the issues you care about, subscribe to The News & Observer at newsobserver.com/subscribe or subscribe to The Herald-Sun at heraldsun.com/subscribe.
This story was originally published December 25, 2019 at 8:00 AM with the headline "The year ahead: Karrie Dixon, ECSU chancellor."
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