Committee approves 4 fee hikes

During the final meeting of the Chancellor's Committee on Student Fees, members approved four remaining proposed hikes for graduate and professional school applications.

The committee, which serves as an advisory board for Chancellor James Moeser on student fee issues, will submit its recommendations to the UNC Board of Trustees for approval at the trustees' November meeting.

Members also eliminated a $1 student government fee approved during an earlier meeting.

The hike, which accounted for inflationary increases, would have needed to win approval in a student referendum. Instead, students will vote this year to allow officials to approve inflationary fee increases for student government without the support of a referendum.

The committee approved an increase that raises the Graduate School application fee from $65 to $70 to cover added security costs for online applications and the increased cost of credit card processing. The fee also covers the maintenance and upgrade costs involved in this year's replacement of the 8-year-old online applications.

Under the approved hike of the Business School MBA application fee, costs will increase by $15 to $125, a number in line with fees of competing business schools.

Members of the committee also approved a proposal to increase the application fees for the Schools of Dentistry and Pharmacy by $2 and $3, respectively, to account for inflation and other minor costs.

The committee denied a proposed fee increase for the Kenan-Flagler Business School's Masters of Accounting program. Business school officials requested that paper application fees increase from $85 to $110, while the online application fee remain $85.

Officials requested the differing prices with the goal of encouraging students to apply online by increasing the cost of submitting paper applications.

Dave Stevens, associate dean for finance and operations in the business school, explained that it is more cost-efficient to process electronic applications.

"We are trying to recognize the costs and move to a more efficient program," Stevens said. "The incentive is to give students a choice while still trying to move."

But committee members feared that this system would be inequitable for students.

"I don't think we should get rid of paper applications," said Student Body President Matt Calabria. "We would be doing a real disservice to the students who need that."

Committee members said they will reconsider an increase proposal for the Master of Accounting program if it is the same for both application forms.

"A fee shouldn't be used to encourage people not to do something, but instead should have a revenue purpose," said Alexa Kleysteuber, student body vice president.

During the meeting, Student Legal Services rescinded its fee increase request based on the discovery that more funds were available than first believed. Officials said the program is secure in its budget for the next four years.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.