Student fee increases considered

UNC’s student fee advisory subcommittee approved two of three proposed student fee increases Friday for the upcoming school year — but were left divided on a small increase to the athletics fee.

The subcommittee reviews student fees, which undergraduate and graduate students are required to pay — currently, each undergraduate student pays $1,917.02 in fees for the year.

At the meeting, the committee considered student fees covering Campus Recreation and Campus Health, and approved $8.60 in increases between the two, but then could not decide on a $4.75 increase to the athletics fee.

Due to a lack of consensus, no decision was made on the proposed 1.7 percent increase to the current athletics fee of $279.

Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham, who presented at the meeting, said the increase would account for a general inflationary increase, as well as the rise of team travel costs and continuing support for UNC’s 28 Olympic sport teams.

He attributed the rise in athletic travel costs to the new member additions to the ACC, including Syracuse University and the University of Notre Dame. The number of games the teams play remains the same, but the distance the teams now have to travel is much greater because of the locations of the new ACC schools.

Assistant Provost for Finance Barron Matherly said he is in support of the fee increase.

“I think it is an appropriate subsidy because of past years and the risk it put Olympic programs at if we did not approve a fee,” he said. “Last time the group did not improve an increase, the athletic fee was increased even higher (the following year).”

But Student Body President Christy Lambden said he is concerned that the athletic department is asking students to subsidize athletics, especially because most students don’t utilize opportunities to get into Olympic sports games for free.

If the student fee advisory subcommittee approves a fee increase, it will be considered by the Tuition and Fee Advisory Task Force in October.

The group will make its recommendations to Chancellor Carol Folt, and fees must then be passed by the UNC Board of Trustees.

Despite disagreement on the athletics fee, the committee approved a 1.6 percent increase, or $7 per student, in Campus Health fees.

Campus Health Executive Director Mary Covington said this increase would account for administrative fees and an increase in cost of utilities, as well as to provide funds for unanticipated repairs, medical liability and renovations.

Autumn McClellan, treasurer of the graduate and professional student federation, said this increase was necessary for students.

“I support the increase, personally, in thinking how much it would cost a student to buy health care without these (fees),” she said. “If we had switched to a co-pay system, students would have to make a decision.”

The committee also approved a 1.5 percent increase, or $1.60 per student, in Campus Recreation fees.

Director of Campus Recreation Bill Goa requested an increased Campus Recreation fee of $1.74, citing the need for extended hours, a shortfall in work study and a way to pay for replacing fitness equipment.

Goa said the fee would cover the $100,000 budget needed to replace all the Campus Recreation equipment on a four- to five-year cycle.

But despite Goa’s proposal, the amount the committee approved was slightly lower.

“We would prefer them to put that (increase) toward weekend hours (instead of holiday hours),” said Kevin Seitz, associate vice chancellor for finance.

Lamdben, who made student fees a priority in his campaign last spring, said in an interview that he will work with both administrators and students to keep costs low.

“Affordability is, in my opinion, the number priority for students,” he said.

university@dailytarheel.com