STEM Policy Series: How do Universities Engage with Legislature in NC?

The University of North Carolina (UNC) system encompasses 17 diverse constituent institutions and other educational, research, and public service organizations. As a public system, UNC institutions receive subsidies from the state to help them achieve their collective, overarching mission: to discover, create, transmit, and apply knowledge to address the needs of individuals and society.

To receive these subsidies, each institution works through designated offices and experts to coordinate legislative matters and communicate directly with the legislature. Although every institution has unique strengths and needs, they must all adhere to a legislative agenda set by the UNC System Office in conjunction with the UNC Board of Governors for the entire university system.

Coordinating these activities is a complex, dynamic process that fluctuates with the changing needs of UNC institutions and the legislature, and which has become even more challenging during the pandemic. Building strong relationships between universities and the legislature is key, and university experts who work with the legislature must ensure they stay up to date with not only the institution’s priorities, but also the UNC system’s goals and the fast-paced world of state and federal policymaking.

Speakers:

Michael Page, Ph.D.
Dr. Page is the Director of External Affairs for North Carolina Central University (NCCU). He has a wealth of expertise in community and government relations and is responsible for overseeing external affairs and advocates for NCCU by working with a number of constituencies, from federal, state and local governments to the University of North Carolina System Office and RTP businesses and industries. A Roseland, Virginia, native, Dr. Page holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration from NCCU. In May 2000, he was awarded the Master of Divinity degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, and earned a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, in September 2011. He is the pastor of Antioch Baptist Church in Durham, and the executive director of United Christian Campus Ministry. He is the founder and chairman of Antioch Builds Community, Inc., a non-profit created and developed to improve the quality of life in the Durham community.

And from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Office of Strategy and Policy, Ms. Nikki Baker, Director of Federal and External Affairs, and Mr. Andrew Cagle, Director of State and External Affairs.

Register

Register now for this free event; you will receive a Zoom link to join the session the day of the event.
This session will be recorded.