Students can vote online today via Student Central from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on several options for a campus-based tuition increase. Student government officials plan to use the survey results to define the student body's stance to the UNC Board of Trustees on Thursday, when trustees will vo ate on the tuition proposal.
The online poll provides background on the proposed increase recommended by the Task Force on Tuition and outlines possible allocations. Student Body Vice President Rudy Kleysteuber said students will be forced to read the background before they proceed to voting.
The survey explains what areas the proposed tuition increase would address, including faculty salaries and the student-to-faculty ratio. The figures outlined in the survey are based on the task force's report, which Provost Robert Shelton released Wednesday on his office's Web site.
Students can choose tuition increases that are the "lowest reasonable," the "highest affordable" and "personal preference," based on the background provided beforehand. The options are $0, $100, $200 and $400 in tuition increases.
Kleysteuber said the survey will provide students the opportunity to voice their opinions about a tuition increase when their input might otherwise be neglected. "There hasn't been an avenue for them to have their voice heard."
Student government has never assembled an online student opinion poll this quickly, he said. Student leaders finalized plans for the survey at a special meeting Thursday. "I think the most important thing to highlight is to outline what unprecedented a move this is," Kleysteuber said.
He said the survey results will be announced tonight but that it might take a day or two for student government officials to formulate a position.
"We're all holding our breath on this," Kleysteuber said. "If students overwhelmingly support a tuition increase, we will change our tone in our presentation to the Board of Trustees."
