Student Government has been grappling with a proposed tuition increase since early last semester. After the latest Board of Governors meeting, it looks like an end might be near.
Wednesday night found the Student Senate listening intently as Chancellor Randy Woodson summarized the recent UNC Board of Governors’s latest meeting regarding the proposed tuition increases for N.C . State and other UNC System schools.
The proposed increase, called the “catch-up” plan, seeks to increase tuition by $1,500 over the next five years.
As of December, Student Government had taken the largest opposing stance in its history when they submitted a bill to the Board of Governors asserting that the proposed tuition increases were unacceptable to the student body.
Patrick Devore , chair of the Student Senate’s tuition fee committee, says that at the Jan. 13 Board of Governors meeting, the Student Senate bill didn’t make the impact they had hoped.
“We didn’t bring the bill forth at the last governor’s meeting because it wasn’t an appropriate time due to the context of the conversation,” Devore said. “In the future, if we ever find ourselves at odds with the Board of Governors again, writing another bill won’t be off the table.”
Though the Student Senate bill didn’t make it to the meeting, Thomas Ross, president of the UNC -System schools, did. Ross eluded to a different increase plan.
“Ross said his proposal would be for two years, not more than a ten percent increase per year, not more than $500 the first year, and not more than $250 the second,” Devore said.
While the Woodson accurately conveyed Ross’s proposed plan, he hesitated to support it.
“President Ross is considering less than the school recommendation to keep pressure on the General Assembly,” Woodson said. “[The catch up tuition increase is] a one time chance to make up some of the headroom in the market and regain lost resources.”
Chandler Thompson, student body president, says right now it’s a bit of a waiting game.
“I’m glad that Ross is looking to make a new proposal that should be lower, as soon as we get that information about it, we’ll inform students,” Thompson said.
Though Ross’s proposal is less than the “catch up” plan, it still represents an increase in tuition, but Student Government isn’t concerned.
“We don’t need to worry about fighting that increase as much because we feel that Ross’s increase will be less than what State originally asked for,” Devore said.
Students continue to wait for Ross’s final proposal. In the meantime, Student Government will be hosting a tuition talk day, hoping to let students address specific questions right to the source.
“Our tuition talk day will be in the brickyard on Feb. 1 at 11:30,” Thompson said. “For students who have class, there will be an online forum where they can post their questions. The chancellor will be present, and hopefully he’ll be able to answer some students’ questions.”
Thompson encourages students to come out and voice their concerns, explaining that while Student Government does not get a vote on the Board of Governors, they can still have a powerful effect on the final outcome.
“After the increase proposal is voted on by the Board of Governors in February, it goes downtown to the legislature,” Thompson said. “That’s where students can have a real effect on the outcome. They can call, e-mail, write letters and contact the Student Senate Public Affairs Committee to oppose the increase.”
Additionally, Thompson still asks students send in videos for the “Cuts Hurt” initiative about how budget cuts negatively impact their education.
“If we can have a more stable budget, tuition increases might not be as crucial,” Thompson said. “It’s definitely time for North Carolina to invest in higher education.”
