The Republican leaders have reduced funding to the state supported University of North Carolina system through the 2015-16 school year.
The importance of obtaining a college education cannot be overestimated. Positions such as systems analyst, web developer, teacher, bank manager, newspaper reporter, television anchor, nurse, physician, attorney, engineer, marketing analyst, accountant, chemist, financial analyst, business manager, economist, and many others require a college education. As we move further away from a farming/manufacturing oriented economy to a service/technology dominated one, the obtaining of a college education becomes even more important.
Numerous studies have shown that the lifetime earnings of individuals with a college degree is substantially higher than those of individuals without a college education. College graduates have a lower unemployment rate than do non-college graduates, and the Republican leaders recognize the importance of obtaining a college degree since most of them have at least one degree.
Prior to the take-over of our government by the Republican leaders, North Carolina provided an excellent college education for its residents through the University of North Carolina system. The 16 institutions were strategically located throughout the state so that all residents were within a 2 1/2 hour drive of at least one state supported university; costs were kept low so that a college education was affordable by most residents; and some of the institutions attained a national reputation so that many students from around the country wanted to attend.
The Republican leaders have taken steps, however, that have made a college education much less affordable, and that appear to attack college students directly.
Voting 2016 