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.
“I have a lot of problems with approving the second year tuition increase,” said board member Peaches Blank.
“We’re sort of changing the rules for the second year, and I think that is putting us on a fundamentally unsound course. It makes it very difficult to support the entire resolution if we’re going to do it for the second year,” said Blank, who is not a member of the budget and finance committee.
Other members also expressed concerns regarding financial aid and how much tuition revenue campuses should be allowed to direct toward need-based aid.
“I don’t think I need any data or any study or any discussion from the staff and campuses to note that I think it’s wrong to take this money from one student who is struggling just as hard as any other and give it to another, said board member Burley Mitchell.
UNC-CH Student Body President Mary Cooper spoke on behalf of the UNC-system Association of Student Governments. She endorsed Ross’ plan, which would raise tuition for UNC-CH students by 13.5 percent.
The full board will vote on the proposal Friday morning.
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