Asheville symposium spotlights rural colleges, federal policy, public trust

As Buncombe County wrestled with school funding, property taxes and a post-Helene budget squeeze, Asheville became the backdrop for a national conversation about whether rural colleges can still persuade the public they are worth the investment.

The American Association of State Colleges and Universities brought its “Transforming Local Communities: A Symposium for Rural Presidents and Chancellors” to Asheville for April 20-21, drawing presidents and chancellors from rural-serving institutions. AASCU said the meetings were built around how those campuses bolster local workforce pipelines, promote sustainability and deliver postsecondary value, while also giving leaders a chance to help shape the association’s action agenda and advocacy strategy for rural institutions and students.

The local significance was hard to miss. Buncombe County commissioners spent months debating a proposed FY2026 budget that at one point topped $504 million in general-fund spending, more than 15% above the prior year’s $438 million budget. A later revision lowered operating costs to $433.1 million, but still included a 2.90-cent property tax increase. Education drove much of the pressure, with Buncombe County Schools asking for $105.9 million in local funding and Asheville City Schools seeking a 1.38-cent increase in its supplemental tax rate plus $2.41 million in additional local support. Public comment, town halls and rallies, including a march in Asheville before the commission vote, showed how closely residents were watching.

That made Asheville a fitting place for sessions on “Rural Regional Public Universities & Federal Policy” and “State of Rural-Serving Institutions and Public Perspectives on Higher Education.” Another session, “Owning the Narrative: How FHSU is Reclaiming Local Agency through a Systematic Data Workhorse,” pointed to a central theme for local governments and colleges alike: data is no longer just a back-office tool. It is part of the argument for public trust.

The symposium also tied national policy to a local campus. An optional April 20 tour of Western Carolina University’s main campus was led by Chancellor Kelli R. Brown, who discussed WCU’s partnership with the community it serves. A fireside chat brought together AASCU president and CEO Charles L. Welch and University of North Carolina System president Peter Hans, adding state-level perspective to a meeting that centered on rural institutions.

For Buncombe County, the practical lesson was clear. Whether the issue is school funding, county taxes or the role of Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College and Western Carolina University in the regional workforce, the pressure is moving toward institutions that can show measurable results and explain them in plain language.