The Chancellor's Note: September 2025

For this issue of The Scene, I’d like to talk about two current and ongoing events that are critically important to the future of UNCSA, as well as your role in it.  

First, I’m happy to report that we had a very productive workshop last Wednesday, Sept. 24, when the UNCSA Foundation Board joined the UNCSA Board of Trustees for campaign planning. It was the first-ever joint meeting of these two boards and the collaboration was both thought-provoking and galvanizing.  

The workshop was led by our campaign consultant, Jim Langley, president of Langley Innovations and the author of five books, including “The Future of Fundraising: Adapting to New Philanthropic Realities” and “Comprehensive Campaigns: A Guide for Presidents and Boards.” Jim has 30 years of higher education experience, which includes conceiving and conducting extraordinary campaigns at three major institutions (Georgetown, UC-San Diego and Georgia Tech), as well as decades of research on donor behavior. 

As you know, our next comprehensive campaign is among our institutional priorities and will be for the next several years. From the time we began working with Jim and with our deans and leadership team last year, we have resolved to develop a campaign that only UNCSA can run — one that is powered by transformational ideas and amplifies UNCSA’s unique strengths and capabilities.

The big ideas that are emerging for our campaign range from cross-campus initiatives to multi-school collaborations to school-specific programs, and more. I mentioned a few of them in my welcome back in August. One big idea that has already secured a lead donor is the recently announced $5.3 million transformative gift for The Joy and Michael Rave Library and Learning Commons. We are excited to work with all of you in developing our big ideas, engaging and stewarding our gifts and donors, and creating a campus of stronger shared purpose through this campaign. 

Second, I want to applaud the deliverers of the four presentations that took place simultaneously on Friday, Sept. 19, highlighting the work that has gone into designing and preparing our new Integrated Schedule (formerly known as the Collaborative Scheduling Initiative). While I couldn’t be at all of them all at once, I know firsthand just how much hard work went into achieving this decades-long goal at our institution. 

If you couldn’t attend, please take time during your workday/night to view the presentation. You’ll learn about Bridge Days, SPOT Courses, a new Intermission time, and a new Comprehensive Academic Calendar.  

We’ll introduce this new concept to our students next spring and look forward to full implementation in fall 2026. 

And finally, you’re invited to our Employee Appreciation Celebration, Sept. 30-Oct. 2. I hope you will participate!   

Sincerely,

Brian Cole 
Chancellor