THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, September 13, 1995 TAG: 9509130414
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
The mood was somber but full of hope Tuesday when trustees of Elizabeth City State University took their first measure of Dr. Mickey L. Burnim, the new interim chancellor.
Burnim was introduced by C.D. Spangler Jr., a Charlotte banker who is president of the University of North Carolina system.
Spangler two weeks ago selected Burnim to run the Elizabeth City campus after the unexpected resignation Aug. 3 of former Chancellor Jimmy L. Jenkins Jr.
Spangler spent 45 minutes spelling out with considerable emotion the responsibilities he said the trustees face in deciding on a permanent chancellor, be it Burnim or somebody else.
``The most important thing you'll ever do as trustees is select a new chancellor of Elizabeth City State University,'' said Spangler. ECSU is one of five predominantly black institutions in the 16-campus UNC system presided over by Spangler.
``I expect you to form a search committee within two weeks,'' Spangler said in measured, almost grim tones.
``I expect you to select at least two qualified candidates and I will forward them to the UNC Board of Governors.
``You represent the best in the East in a university system with 150,000 students,'' Spangler added.
Then, in praise of the departed Jenkins, Spangler said: ``Under his long service, this campus has been transformed. . . .There was never a day when I wasn't proud to be associated with him.''
The final decision on a new chancellor will be made by a vote of the UNC Board of Governors, Spangler said, a process that could take many months.
Spangler selected Burnim, a 46-year old Texas economist who became a university professor, to be acting chancellor. Burnim came to ECSU Sept. 1 from North Carolina Central University in Durham where he had been provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs since 1990.
Burnim, a slim, bookish-looking academic with a voice that resonates with authority, quickly got down to business and gave the trustees an initial dose of bad news:
``We have 1,850 full-time ECSU students enrolled when we should have 2,050, and this is a very serious shortfall,'' Burnim said. ``It means we are facing an $800,000 budget cut in 1995-1996.''
``I'm planning internal reorganization along more traditional lines at Elizabeth City State University,'' Burnim said. He identified academic affairs as an area of probable change.
``I'm also concerned with ouraudit reporting and expect better internal control of university finances,'' said Burnim. State auditors in the past have occasionally cited less-than-satisfactory bookkeeping at the university.
Burnim, discussing academic evaluation reports required by the General Assembly, said ECSU had ``ineffective" programs in physical education, business, applied mathematics and art.
Roger McLean, ECSU vice chancellor for financial affairs, said $800,000 in budget cuts, if necessary, would be ``across the board'' in the current $35 million operating budget for 1995-96.
``Faculty reduction would have to be considered,'' McLean said.
As a first order of business, Elizabeth City Mayor H.R. ``Rick'' Gardner swore in the 13 trustees for another two-year term. New members included Dock Brown of Weldon, Floyd J. Lupton of Belhaven, Betty S. Meggs of Elizabeth City, Betty Randolph of Washington, N.C., and James Cherry, representing the student government association.
Stanley Green, a Raleigh banker who had been acting chairman of the board, was unanimously elected chairman.
Burnim sent the trustees home happy when he said he would emphasize communication during his interim chancellorship and specifically promised to keep the trustees regularly and fully informed of his plans and actions.
In the past, some ECSU trustee boards were expected to rubber-stamp the agendas presented to them. by CNB