Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to share with you the new ad campaign focusing on affordability and access to public higher education. Please see the note below from Andrew Kelly, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Policy and Earl Whipple, Vice President of Communications:

“On Tuesday, the UNC System launched a new statewide multi-media campaign to promote affordability and access to public higher education in North Carolina. Thanks to a federal grant awarded to GEAR UP NC, the campaign messages will appear on social media, connected TV, radio, and as PSAs through January 2020.

The ads and videos focus on three core ways that North Carolina makes college more affordable:

  1. NC Promise’s $500 Tuition
  2. Fixed Tuition at all 16 UNC System universities for four consecutive years.
  3. Scholarships and Aid – about 60% of North Carolina college students receive some form of scholarship, grants, or financial aid.

The results within the first few days have been impressive, and North Carolinians are paying attention. The online ads received almost 100,000 impressions in the first 24 hours, and webpage visits are nearing 3,500. Facebook ads are performing 10.5 times greater than the industry average.

Our institutions are further supporting this campaign by posting content to their websites and distributing information in newsletters and mailings. Elizabeth City State, NC State, UNC Wilmington, Fayetteville State, UNC Pembroke, East Carolina, and Western Carolina have all posted news stories and/or promoted the campaign on social media.

We are also encouraging individuals to post and share the ads and affordableeducation.org within their social media networks.”

Thank you,

Bill Roper