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first and ten campaign: Drive for Football and Athletic Excellence at UNCP

• First and Ten Presentation - 4.38 mb (PDF - requires Adobe Reader)

Founded in 1887, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke approaches 120 years excellence by changing lives on campus, in the community, and throughout the region and country. UNCP is THE fastest growing college in North Carolina and over 13,000 alumni proudly carry on the UNCP legacy. Since 1999, our campus has nearly doubled the size of its student body. Dramatic increases in our faculty and staff have occurred. The Sampson-Livermore Library, Oxendine Science building, and Chavis University Center are just a few of the areas that have benefited from over $60 million that has been invested in physical changes to the campus. UNCP consistently ranks among the most diverse universities in the country, offers nearly 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and has an annual economic impact of over $100 million in the region. These qualities help reiterate why we feel UNCP is the greatest resource in southeastern North Carolina.

UNCP has identified a very real need within our campus community, our city, county, state and region, that has been vocalized by alumni, students, community leaders, and friends, and that was approved by our Board of Trustees in December of 2004, as well as the UNC Board of Governors in April 2005– to undertake the re-establishment of a football program at UNCP in 2007. The process that led the University to this conclusion was not undertaken lightly, and included a thorough investigation led by the Department of Athletics on behalf of Chancellor Allen C. Meadors. The comprehensive investigation was undertaken at the request of the University Board of Trustees over a 6 month period and included: a Feasibility Study performed by the Department of Athletics and an unbiased consultant engaged by the University; multiple surveys of our students and alumni to determine if the addition of football was a widely held aspiration; lively pro and con discussion among student, faculty, and community leaders, the University Executive Staff, and ultimately, among the Board of Trustees. This process led Chancellor Meadors to the conclusion that the re-creation of a football program at UNCP, after a hiatus of nearly 50 years, was deemed a practical and popular endeavor. This conclusion was dependent upon the development of a viable financial plan that would include the use of available university assets, an approved and accepted student fee structure for football, and the potential for significant private support. Furthermore, this plan was based on the premise that the football program would not be instituted at the expense of any current program, athletic or academic, and that the university would remain in compliance with current gender equity guidelines.

In the wake of that comprehensive and informative process, UNCP is undertaking the First and Ten Campaign, an intensive campaign not only aimed at adding a Football Program to the long list of growth initiatives instituted at the university over the past five years, but elevating all of our athletic programs with upgrades. The impact of improving the quality of all our programs for will be felt in a significant way at our university: not only on the playing field, not only among our student-athletes, and not only within the Department of Athletics, but the derivative impact of a football program and well rounded athletic program will be evident in the

• recruiting of new students who may be seeking a more complete university experience;
• the retention of current students who anticipate renewed excitement and a greater sense of community on campus;
• a greater recognition within our region as a more attractive alternative for high school scholar-athletes;
• the building of new community/university alliances, and an increased economic impact in the region;
• the increased connection of alumni with their university;
• the creation of an campus environment that will promote faculty involvement and enhance new faculty recruitment;
• the establishment of traditions that underscore student and alumni involvement;
• the possibilities for additional student-centered programs to thrive in the spotlight generated by a football program; and ultimately,
• the growth of UNCP as a more rounded, more complete, more recognizable peer institution among other universities known and respected throughout the state of North Carolina.

Based on all of this, and the support of virtually every faction inside and outside of the UNCP community, we proudly announce the First and Ten Campaign: Drive For Football and Athletics Excellence at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

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Updated: Monday, October 8, 2007

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