Message from BCBP Interim Chair
Dear Department,
As many of you know, UNC’s Board of Trustees recently denied tenure to an award-winning Black journalist (Nikole Hannah-Jones). This decision was in spite of overwhelming faculty support, which goes against norms and past precedent at UNC. As major journalistic articles are pointing out, there was political influence behind this decision – a decision that hurts us all and everything we are working so hard to change at Carolina and around the country. From the Leadership Team and the DEI committee, we want to let you know that we are fully aware of this event and are actively looking at ways we can respond and how you can get involved. One immediate action you can do now is to join the Hussman School of Journalism faculty in protesting this decision by adding your signature at this link. You can also hear more today during a special Faculty Executive Meeting that is being held at 10:30 am. The open meeting details are below.
All best wishes,
The Leadership Team and the DEI committee
See also June 21, 2021 Update from BCBP DEI Committee.
UNC-Chapel Hill Faculty Executive Committee to hold special meeting Monday
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Faculty Executive Committee will hold a special meeting on Monday, May 24, 2021, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The purpose is to discuss recent Board of Trustees actions regarding tenure.
Information on how to watch the virtual meeting is posted on our open meeting calendar here: This meeting will be held remotely using Zoom ID 942 1879 0370. Please contact the Office of Faculty Governance at facgov@unc.edu by 9:00 a.m. on the meeting date for the passcode.
Please note that some sections of this meeting may be held in closed session under North Carolina Open Meetings Law provisions.
Brian D. Strahl, Ph.D., Professor and Interim Chair
News release on May 26, 2021 update on NC Policy Watch website: BREAKING: UNC Board of Trustees could reconsider tenure for Pulitzer-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones
