UNC system leaders announced Thursday that they will push for tuition increases lower than the amount mandated by the state legislature.
They will also continue to lobby for revenue generated by the increases to be returned to the campuses.
UNC-system President Erskine Bowles says getting the money back is crucial to meet an increased need for financial aid.
The N.C. General Assembly passed a mandate last summer increasing 2010-11 tuition by the lesser of $200 or 8 percent at all system schools. Across the campuses, the average increase would be $180 or 7.2 percent.
The revenue generated by that increase would go to the state’s general fund to help close the budget shortfall.
But proposals put forward by individual campuses are significantly less. The average proposed increase for residents is $131, or 5.2 percent.
Vice President for Finance Rob Nelson presented each campus’ request to the Board of Governors’ budget and finance committee at their monthly meeting Thursday.
Nelson is reviewing each campus’ tuition proposals and will pass feedback on to Bowles in the next few weeks.
Bowles will submit his official tuition recommendations to the board for approval at the end of January. The plans must then be approved by the legislature.