Each student who attends UNC has his or her own set of problems, but everyone has to deal with the constant increase in the price of obtaining a degree.
According to the College Board, the price of attending a public four-year university has risen an average of 5.2 percent every year. And at every student body president candidate debate this week, all candidates expressed concerns about the costs of attending UNC .
Matt Farley, student body treasurer, said student influence depends on past actions with administrators. He has worked this year on the student fee advisory subcommittee which reviews all the fee requests and makes recommendations to administrators.
“The influence you have on a tuition conversation and a tuition conversation that comes up at the tuition and fee advisory task force or Board of Trustees all depends on how you’ve been interacting with administrators and the Board of Trustees from the minute you step in office until you get to that point,” he said.
Andrew Powell, who previously sat on the Student Advisory Committee to the Chancellor said the connections he has will help him implement his strategies. He said he plans to yield lower college costs through blended learning and classroom reform.
Farley said anything students try to accomplish with tuition and fees is ambitious, but some changes are possible.
Winston Howes has said the University could save money through replacing some outdated systems with technology, such as aspects of academic advising.
Farley said what was most important was taking into account the diverse experiences of all of UNC’s students.
“You’ve got make sure you’re looking at or thinking about every student’s potential financial situation,” he said.
