The leaders of the UNC system and its campuses turned precisely zero cartwheels Tuesday upon getting a look at the spending plan proposed by the House.

It calls for cuts of more than 15 percent to public universities. That's far too much, UNC President and others said.

Systemwide, that would lead to the elimination of 3,200 jobs, many of them filled, Ross said.

N.C. State Chancellor Randy Woodson said the cuts would force "large and dramatic change" to the entire system.

Stay tuned. The Senate budget, expected to be more friendly to universities, comes out next.