ASHEVILLE, N.C. — It’s summer, but things are still moving at UNC Asheville, despite some recent news about budget issues.

Isabella Giambusso is a philosophy major who gives campus tours.  

What You Need To Know

  • UNC Asheville is facing a tough decision next month as it faces a $6 million deficit

  • The school has also seen an enrollment decline of 25% over the last five years

  • In June, UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort shared a proposal to eliminate several programs at the university

  • UNCA’s chancellor will present the proposal to the UNC System Board of Governors this month

“I wanted to learn how to think more critically and to understand the world and myself in a way that was less surface level,” Giambusso said. 

She’s also the president of Philosophy Club, which she said isn’t just about reading or sitting around in a circle doing nothing.  

“We talk, we debate, we discuss different world events that are going on and how we can think of it in a philosophical way that will actually be useful for people,” Giambusso said.

She’s upset with recent news on campus.

The school has seen an enrollment decline of 25% over the past five years.

UNC Asheville is also facing a $6 million budget deficit, and UNCA Chancellor Kimberly van Noort is submitting a proposal to the UNC System Board of Governors that suggests eliminating Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Drama, Religious and Philosophy Studies, while also curtailing languages and literature by eliminating concentrations in French and German.  

“After I read the email, I started crying because I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the fun times that I had in class with my professors and my peers, all of the fun Philosophy Cub events and just the community,” Giambusso said.  

She also says she’s sad that future UNCA students may not get to experience the community and major.  

“To think that in a few years,” Giambusso said, “No new people will get this experience, that really broke my heart.”  

With the proposal, students who are currently in those majors and minors would still be able to finish their degrees. While Giambusso said she’s relieved about that, she has other concerns.  

“I keep thinking long term about where are my professors going to go, you know,” Giambusso said. “I love my professors. They’ve all been so supportive of me.”  

She said the majors all provide students with tools for life.

“These majors promote thinking and creativity and understanding of other cultures and ourselves,” Giambusso said. “I think the university should be a place where we can do that comfortably.” 

Van Noort will present the proposal to the UNC System Board of Governors in July.