Chancellor Thorp and the Board of Trustees are looking to utilize the next 18 months to plan what they hope will be the University’s largest fundraising campaign ever.

Facing increased tuition and a turbulent economy, the foundation, which gives out tens of thousands of dollars to more than 200 UNC students each year, opted to decrease class size.

During tuition discussions at the UNC-system Board of Governors meeting this month, a student spoke of the jobs she holds to pay tuition, and a board member responded that he too had worked his way through UNC. I was impressed, but I desperately wished I could point out that his comparison to today’s students no longer holds

After losing the tuition battle against the UNC-system Board of Governors, students are preparing for the next stage in the fight against tuition increases: the N.C. General Assembly.

University administrators are beginning to plan for the near future, when the pressure of budget cuts will have subsided.

As 200 students and Chapel Hill occupiers chanted and beat on drums in protest outside the meeting room, the UNC-system Board of Governors passed President Thomas Ross’ proposal of increasing tuition and fees by a systemwide average of 8.8 percent.

With the Friday approval of a tuition increase for both the 2012-13 and 2013-14 academic years comes a change in focus for next year’s student body president.

Despite student protests, the Board of Governors passed UNC-system President Thomas Ross’ tuition and fee increase proposal of increasing tuition and fees by a systemwide average of 8.8 percent. See what students and executives tweeted about this morning’s meeting.

As students and Chapel Hill occupiers chanted and beat on drums in protest outside the meeting room, The UNC-system Board of Governors passed President Thomas Ross’ proposal of increasing tuition and fees by an systemwide average of 8.8 percent.

Occupy Chapel Hill will be one of the many voices at the tuition hike rally outside of the General Administration building today.

UNC-system President Thomas Ross’ tuition and fee increase proposal has passed one hurdle, but skepticism from some members of the Board of Governors leaves the final approval of the recommendation unclear.

The UNC-system Board of Governors’ budget and finance committee approved today system President Thomas Ross’ tuition and fee increase proposals, which average 8.8 percent. The committee’s 5-1 vote followed voiced skepticism from many board members about tuition and fee increases spanning the next two years.

The swell of student opposition to proposed tuition hikes has been lead by four main organizations, each with different views of which tuition plan is best for the University and the student body.

Amid an array of conflicting opinions on tuition hikes — ranging from zero to double-digit increases — the UNC-system Board of Governors is expected to end a divisive tuition debate Friday.

As administrators vote on unprecedented tuition hikes this week, the association meant to represent student voice might be preparing to lose its flagship member.

The UNC-system Board of Governors should approve President Thomas Ross’ tuition plan at its meetings today and Friday.

Members of Students for a Democratic Society say it’s not too late to stop looming tuition hikes. When UNC-system President Thomas Ross met with students at UNC on Wednesday night, he said it would be hard for students to affect the tuition decision this late in the process — but SDS members disagreed.

Student protesters, who have opposed tuition increases since October, will likely have little influence when the UNC-system Board of Governors votes on tuition proposals on Feb. 10.

The UNC-system Board of Governors will decide tuition increases for all UNC-system schools next week, and many students are hoping to attend and voice their opinion.

With UNC-system President Thomas Ross recommending increases above the Board of Governors’ mandated 6.5 percent tuition increase cap, some board members say they are not sure they want to support such substantial tuition hikes.