Dear colleagues,

As we prepare to launch some 38,000 new graduates into the world over the next couple of weeks, I hope you will all feel pride that we’ve met our mission to provide education and opportunity to our fellow citizens. This Employee Appreciation Day, I want to take a moment to reflect on all you have accomplished this year, and all we have achieved together.

Fifty years since the UNC System was created, we now serve nearly a quarter of a million students with high quality, affordable education that will help them succeed in life. You all play an important role in this incredible story, and I want to thank you for your work to support the people of North Carolina.

Next weekend, I’ll be speaking to the graduates at UNC Wilmington’s four commencement ceremonies. I’m especially excited to celebrate them (and their families) because they’ve not had an easy path these past couple of years on the way to a degree.

I’d like to celebrate you, too, because you are part of the team that helps make it all possible. Please save June 16 on your calendars for a really fun employee appreciation event at CSLD. I look forward to seeing you and toasting you in person.

Peter Hans