Provost urges general faculty
to build culture of ‘yes’

It is time to build “a culture of ‘yes’ at NC State,” Dr. Larry Nielsen said in his first speech to the general faculty as provost on Monday, Sept. 12.

Nielsen defined the culture of ‘yes’ as one that requires the university to think big, to give new ideas a chance and to look beyond the boundaries of the UNC system. He called for an expanded international program and global training program at NC State, to “help us achieve our aspiration that our graduates will lead not just in North Carolina, but wherever they live and work throughout the world.”

The provost welcomed first lady Mary Easley to the faculty, and praised her help in implementing the new “Millennium Seminars” program, wherein NC State will host a seminar by a national leader twice each semester. He suggested that NC State could further create a culture of innovation by reviewing its general education requirements and developing a component that would allow students to participate in study abroad, service learning or internships as a necessary part of their NC State experience.

Nielsen reiterated his commitment to diversity, saying “it is morally right and necessary for success.”

Finally, the provost outlined future ways to improve organization and efficiency at NC State. He specifically mentioned a new set of budget principles that would allow the fair allocation of resources, plans for a university-related child care center, and a proposal for an ecological laboratory and reserve near Lake Raleigh.

Following the provost’s speech, Chancellor James L. Oblinger gave a brief synopsis of the university’s Katrina relief efforts as well as a summary of the budget initiatives from the General Assembly.

Among the budget initiatives:

• There was a $7.8 million – or 1.7 percent – budget reduction across all budget codes.
• NC State received $23.7 million in total general fund budget initiatives, including $2.9 million for the Biomanfacturing Training and Education Center and $1.9 million for the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation.
• The university received $18.3 million for capital construction and renovation, some of which will be used for planning and design of the Engineering Complex III, the third phase of relocating the College of Engineering to Centennial Campus.
• The N.C. House and Senate passed a number of non-appropriated capital projects as well, including parking expansion, Carter-Finley Stadium expansion, and residence hall and Thompson Theatre renovations, among others.

Posted Sept. 16, 2005

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