AI and Bill Belichick: One Man's All-In Bet

A New Vision for UNC: AI and the Future of Higher Education

Lee Roberts, Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, engaged with me at the University Club of San Francisco on a Friday morning. This meeting occurred prior to his football team’s disappointing loss to Cal – a setback stemming from a crucial fumble near the goal line. This event underscores the challenges facing UNC’s ambitious undertaking with Bill Belichick, as the project hasn’t unfolded as initially anticipated.

Focusing on Artificial Intelligence

Despite the looming football result, Roberts was in California to discuss artificial intelligence. This forward-looking topic serves as a welcome diversion from other matters at the 235-year-old institution.

“Students won’t be reprimanded after graduation for utilizing AI tools to perform their best,” Roberts explained, articulating his core belief about preparing students for the professional world. “However, some faculty are currently conveying that message to students.”

A Chancellor’s Background

Roberts joined the discussion between other appointments, including meetings with AI-focused companies. UNC has strategically designated AI as its primary focus. His background includes three decades in finance, culminating as managing partner of a private investment firm, and a prior role as state budget director under a Republican governor. He also lectured on budgeting at Duke University, though he lacked prior experience in academic administration before assuming the interim chancellorship at UNC in January of the previous year, a position that became permanent eight months later.

Navigating Challenges

The university recently experienced a loss of 118 federal grants, totaling $38 million, as part of a broader federal initiative to terminate over 4,000 grants across 600 institutions. Furthermore, over 900 individuals signed a statement expressing their lack of recognition of Roberts as chancellor following his appointment, characterizing the selection process as a political “coronation” rather than a comprehensive search.

Adding to these complexities, Belichick’s return to football has been challenging, with the team currently holding a 2-4 record and facing increasing scrutiny from sports journalists regarding internal issues. Despite these hurdles, Roberts remains focused on the future.

Faculty Perspectives on AI

Roberts describes a spectrum of faculty attitudes at UNC, with some enthusiastically “leaning forward” with AI and others exhibiting “their heads in the sand.” This represents a significant cultural shift occurring within UNC and likely across numerous universities globally.

Some professors are assigning research tasks that necessitate AI assistance (“closer to real-world scenarios,” according to Roberts), while others view chatbots as a form of academic dishonesty, akin to performance-enhancing drugs.

“We have 4,000 faculty members,” Roberts stated, “and they rightfully value their independence and autonomy in teaching.”

Incentivizing Innovation

Acknowledging the limitations of mandated changes for tenured professors, Roberts is implementing “incentive-based programs” to drive progress. This includes promoting a school dean to the newly created role of Vice Provost for AI. Jeffrey Bardzell, the appointed individual, possesses over 20 years of experience as a professor and a unique blend of technological expertise and humanist perspectives, making him “exceptionally well-suited to assist the faculty in adapting.”

Restructuring for the Future

UNC is actively pursuing other initiatives, most notably the merger of the School of Data Science and Society and the School of Information and Library Science into a single, yet-to-be-named entity, with AI studies at its core.

A National Trend

UNC is not alone in prioritizing AI. At least 14 colleges now offer bachelor’s degrees in AI, and institutions like Arizona State University are integrating AI tools across all academic disciplines.

Concerns and Criticisms

The proposed school merger has raised concerns among library science students regarding the future of their degrees, as reported by The Daily Tar Heel, the university’s independent student newspaper. One faculty member anonymously expressed concerns to the paper, alleging that Roberts initiated the merger without a clear vision, suggesting that the “careers of faculty, staff, and students are being jeopardized to satisfy Roberts’ ego.”

A Collaborative Approach

Roberts assures that the implementation will be collaborative, not dictated from above. He emphasizes that the move is proactive, not reactive. “This isn’t about eliminating programs,” he clarified, “nor is it primarily a cost-cutting measure,” potentially referencing the lost federal research funding, which represents 3.5% of UNC’s total research budget.

Addressing Funding Losses

While acknowledging the impact of the grant losses – “in many cases, individuals lose their life’s work” – Roberts maintains that 3.5% falls within the university’s typical annual variance. He also stated he is actively engaging with policymakers and legislators in Washington to advocate for the continued importance of federal research funding, particularly given the current uncertainty surrounding these funds.

The Belichick Investment

The conversation shifted to the $10 million annual investment in Bill Belichick as part of a five-year contract. Roberts, aware of the scrutiny, explained that college sports are undergoing rapid changes. He noted that peer institutions invest comparable amounts in football, often exceeding UNC’s expenditure, as football revenue supports 28 other sports programs. UNC’s recent success in women’s lacrosse and soccer is directly attributed to football funding.

“Hiring someone else and underperforming would have drawn criticism, with people questioning why Belichick wasn’t selected,” Roberts suggested.

Addressing Program Concerns

Despite the financial investment, reports have surfaced detailing internal challenges within the football program, with players, parents, coaches, and administrators describing a disconnect between Belichick’s NFL coaching style and the needs of college athletes.

Roberts maintains that his decisions are not based on “a few news stories.” He believes Belichick has successfully integrated into the campus community, attending other teams’ games, providing pizzas to fraternities, and drawing on his upbringing on a college campus, where his father coached at Navy.

Looking Ahead

Hours after our conversation, UNC suffered a defeat against Cal due to a fumble near the end zone. Roberts is likely to view this setback as a temporary obstacle.

He may face ongoing criticism for his non-traditional academic background, but he cannot afford to be deterred. The petition questioning his qualifications, signed by 900 individuals, highlighted that he is the only leader among the top 50 universities without prior experience in higher education administration. The Daily Tar Heel has consistently offered critical coverage of his chancellorship.

A Unique Perspective

“I believe that regardless of one’s prior experience, there is a significant learning curve in a role like this,” Roberts stated. A former provost would lack expertise in “business, finance, budgeting, politics, operations, or real estate.” Conversely, someone from the business world would need to acquire a deep understanding of academia.

He argues that the modern university chancellor must embody the roles of CEO, diplomat, fundraiser, and sports executive, making it unlikely for any candidate to possess all the necessary skills from the outset.

Remaining Optimistic

What is striking about Roberts is his apparent composure. The funding cuts are within acceptable parameters, the Belichick hire is a long-term investment, and faculty resistance to AI is a challenge to be addressed.

Navigating a Changing Landscape

He is making bold moves during a period of significant upheaval in higher education. Federal funding is uncertain, declining birth rates threaten enrollment, and the value of a college degree is being questioned, with many graduates facing low-wage jobs that do not require a degree. The emergence of AI further complicates the situation.

However, Roberts views these challenges as opportunities. He believes the window for action is limited. “The challenge with AI is that we must act quickly and foster collaboration across disciplines,” he explained. “These are two areas where universities historically struggle.”

A Bold Vision

Whether Roberts’ strategy will succeed remains to be seen. However, it is clear that he prioritizes swift action and disruption over preserving tradition at UNC.

“Our goal is to establish Carolina as the leading public university in America,” he declared, sounding remarkably like a Silicon Valley CEO.

Listen to TechCrunch’s StrictlyVC Download podcast for the full interview with Roberts; new episodes are released every Tuesday.