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(02/10/08 5:00am)
In the past several days"" I've received several letters telling me to fire our sports editor and a senior sportswriter. I've been told that I should step down as editor of this paper. A Student Congress representative even came into our office to complain on behalf of his ""constituents.""I've witnessed some of the most passionate responses from our readers in my almost four years here because The Daily Tar Heel picked Duke to beat UNC in Wednesday's matchup between the Tobacco Road rivals.Hundreds of you have gone online and contributed to message boards" and I've received at least a dozen letters to the editor.I'm here to tell you that the paper made the right call - and not just because of the outcome of the basketball game.Some readers have commented that because we are a student newspaper we should have some kind of slant in our coverage that favors the home team.One of the most personally disturbing comments that I came across online was one questioning whether the DTH was upholding its journalistic integrity with its prediction.Yes the DTH is a student-run newspaper. But that does not mean that we do not hold ourselves to professional standards.Not all of our staffers want to be journalists after graduation but our newsroom serves as a learning lab for them to gain the skills they will need if they do decide to.Many of our sportswriters hope to write professionally.In that vein" they take their jobs very seriously. DTH sportswriters do not wear UNC apparel or colors when they attend games. They aren't permitted to be fans of the teams they cover. They can't join Carolina Fever.I can't tell you how many times I've gone back to our sports desk to ask them if ""we"" won a game only to be corrected that" yes" ""they"" won the game.That's professionalism.Picking Duke to win wasn't a popular choice. Giving Coach K the advantage in that game over Roy Williams was even less so.However" those decisions were made by people who have to put aside any personal affiliations they feel for UNC to give our readers a realistic analysis of the game.Picking a Ty Lawson-less Tar Heel team to lose to Duke was hardly a stretch" as much as any die-hard fan hates to admit.You wouldn't want a Hillary Clinton supporter writing laudatory things about her in an objective DTH news story. So why would you want a sports piece to discard studied analysis in favor of what's popular?I'm not going to try to tell you that ""this was just a game"" because I know many of you feel much more strongly than that.But while we respect and often honor school spirit" the DTH's role on campus must go beyond that attitude.Admittedly complicating the DTH's coverage was the fact that you picked up the paper Thursday after the loss to see our masthead in Duke blue and a Blue Devil on the opinion page a result of a loss of our traditional bet with The Chronicle Duke's campus paper.While I'm sure that served as a frustrating reminder of the team's loss for many of you it was not intended to rub the defeat in anyone's face.That wager is a traditional one made between the editors-in-chief of the two student newspapers and is completely separate of our sports desk's coverage.It was my personal duty to deliver copies of our newspaper to Durham last week not exactly a task that I relished.And who knows? Maybe come March The Chronicle will pay us a return visit with their papers carrying a Carolina blue masthead.
(04/27/07 4:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>After a year of tuition talks marked by student protest and frustration, officials are moving to review the often-contentious process.
Members of the Board of Trustees will hear a presentation by Provost Bernadette Gray-Little at their May meeting on ways to streamline the process.
"It seems like every year we go through a lot of pain to discuss tuition," said Nelson Schwab, board chairman. "The question is, 'Is there a better way to do it?'"
The review was sparked by the board's January meeting, when about 200 students, mostly hailing from out of state, showed up to protest tuition hikes.
Despite creative antics, such as students painting themselves in Tar Heel-blue body paint, trustees approved increases of $250 for in-state undergraduates, $1,250 for out-of-state undergraduates and $500 for graduate students.
Student fees totaling $56.48 also were added to the campus bill.
But trustees said they took note of student comments and now are using that feedback to evaluate possible changes.
Former Student Body President James Allred, who cast the only vote against the increases, said one positive sign is the board's commitment to review a controversial policy.
The policy, passed in 2004, mandates that UNC tuition not exceed the 25th percentile compared to peer institutions when it comes to in-state tuition and not exceed the 75th percentile when it comes to out-of-state students.
"They will need to think of a new philosophy," Allred said.
Gray-Little, who served as co-chairwoman of the tuition and fee advisory task force along with Allred, said she is working with other administrators to compile ideas for alterations to the process.
She said the efficiency of the task force could be improved if more background information was put together by staff beforehand and if more trustees were involved in the process earlier.
"It seemed like the task force went a long time in one direction," Gray-Little said, noting the frustrations of some task force members when the board's hike for nonresidents differed greatly from the task force's recommendation of $500.
Brian Phelps, former student body vice president and a member of the task force, said many members felt as if their opinions and work were disregarded.
"It needs to be changed in a way so all parties involved feel like their voices are heard," Phelps said.
Two trustees already serve as members of the task force.
Schwab said he thinks the board could do a better job communicating its tuition stance early on to students.
"I feel like the board has pretty good communication and perspective," he said. "We're not communicating as well a fuller perspective to the various student groups - graduate and undergraduate."
He said one priority for the board next year is improving tuition predictability for out-of-state students - a goal in line with the thinking of Student Body President Eve Carson, who is from Athens, Ga.
In-state students were provided for this year by a new policy from UNC-system President Erskine Bowles. That policy states that in-state hikes are capped at 6.5 percent per year for the next three years.
Carson, who will serve as an ex-officio trustee, said she wants to push for more tuition predictability and accountability.
She also said she would like to re-examine a locked-in tuition policy, which would guarantee incoming nonresidents a certain rate for each year they are at UNC.
Administrators discussed that idea after November's Board of Trustees meeting but decided it was not feasible after further research.
Carson also is advocating for the creation of an expense report - one of her platform planks - that would detail where tuition increases are going and why.
"I think students can understand that there are needs for greater tuition costs and the University has expenses which it must meet," Carson said.
"I think students want to know what they're going to be paying for."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Tuition decision 2007
Defining tuition predictability:
UNC-system President Erskine Bowles
introduced a new policy in the fall meant to increase predictability for in-state students.
The policy states that tuition hikes are capped at 6.5 percent for in-state students for three more years.
There is no official policy to provide for nonresidents.
2007 increases
(03/29/07 4:00am)
As three veterans of the Board of Trustees prepare to step down from their posts, three fresh faces are poised to take their places atop the University's governing structure.
UNC alumni Phillip Clay, Alston Gardner and Sallie Shuping Russell will be sworn in at the board's July meeting. Their nominations were approved recently by the UNC-system Board of Governors.
They will replace trustees Tim Burnett, Jean Kitchin and Richard "Stick" Williams, who have served on the board for eight years each. Burnett and Williams are former board chairmen, while Kitchin is vice chairwoman of the board. Their final meeting will be May 24.
While the three represent a wealth of institutional knowledge, Board of Trustees Chairman Nelson Schwab said the change is part of a natural process.
"It's kind of mixed emotions," Schwab said. "You've got three very valuable trustees . who have done a tremendous amount for the school.
"At the same time we have three bright, intelligent people coming in."
Clay, a 1968 UNC graduate, is chancellor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The position is the equivalent to the provost's job at UNC.
He has worked with the Institute for the Arts and Humanities at UNC and also has spoken at UNC several times.
Gardner, a 1977 alumnus, is the founder of Fulcrum Ventures, LLC, a venture development firm. He was involved with the planning of the new FedEx Global Education Center and has taught classes at the Kenan-Flagler Business School.
A $10 million gift by Alston in 2001 established scholarships for selected students to attend an annual study abroad program in Singapore.
Shuping Russell, also from the class of 1977, is managing director at Quellos Private Capital Markets.
She serves on the board of directors for the UNC Health Care System and the University's endowment fund.
"They're going to bring a fresh perspective to the board, which is always good," Schwab said.
The board, which consists of 12 full members and the student body president as an ex-officio trustee, meets every two months. Among their duties, members are charged with approving personnel decisions, ensuring the academic quality of the University and forming a selection committee in case the chancellor's office becomes vacant.
The announcement of the new trustees comes at a time when the board is in transition. Schwab soon will wrap up his term as chairman. His successor will be named during the board's May meeting.
The last new trustee to be selected was Barbara Hyde in 2005.
This year, board members have tackled contentious issues such as reforming UNC's tuition process and restructuring academic eligibility policies - changes that new members must ensure are successful.
The departing trustees all said that they plan to stay involved at the University and that they plan to finish strong at their last meeting.
"You need to run through the tape," Burnett said. "You don't let up."
Kitchin added that she will miss attending meetings but that she is glad to go out with Burnett and Williams, whom she views as friends and mentors.
"The board is in such capable hands," she said. "I have no doubts about that."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/27/07 4:00am)
As UNC's mascot, Jason Ray's job was to brighten people's day.
Friends and family said that didn't stop when he took off the mask.
The UNC senior who wore the Rameses suit for three years, died at 8:38 a.m. Monday after being hit by an SUV on Friday while walking along a New Jersey highway.
He sustained severe head injuries after being hit by the SUV on N.J. Route 4 and was treated at Hackensack University Medical Center. Ray was in New Jersey for the Sweet 16. Hospital officials said that Ray was an organ donor.
Ray, 21, was an active member of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and the lead singer of a band, Nine P.M. Traffic.
Those who knew the Concord native said he was a generous person who always thought of others.
"I think that he had a passion toward brightening people's days," said senior James Jolley, who has known Ray since their freshman year at UNC. "I think that's what possessed him to be Rameses."
A memorial service tentatively is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday on the steps of Wilson Library.
Ray, who was to have graduated in May with a degree in business administration, also led a Bible study for off-campus upperclassmen.
His parents and two brothers, along with several friends, made the trip to New Jersey to be by his side.
"Jason was surrounded by family and friends at all times from the time he arrived in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit," Ray's brother Allen said in a family statement.
"Jason was a wonderful son, brother and friend," the statement says. "He leaves behind a legacy of friendship, laughter, excitement for life and a genuine love for all the people he touched during his all-to-short life."
Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Jason Kendall Ray Memorial Fund, at Concord Christian Church, 3101 Davidson Highway, Concord, N.C., 28027.
Ray was one of three men who shared the responsibilities of portraying Rameses. In addition to attending basketball games, he also made appearances at fundraisers and other special events.
Tom Cawley, director of special events for Kenan-Flagler Business School, said he worked with Ray regularly and that he always brought a special presence wherever he went.
"He loved UNC - that was really apparent in everything he did," Cawley said. "He was always on."
Ray was headed back to his hotel from getting food at a convenience store when he was struck by Gagik Hovsepyan, 51, of Paramus, N.J., according to a Fort Lee Police Department press release.
Hovsepyan was on Route 4 trying to exit when he hit Ray with his 2006 Mercury Mountaineer, the release states. Hovsepyan stopped his vehicle to help and called police. His son was asleep in the vehicle.
The release states that Hovsepyan did not appear to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. No criminal charges have been filed.
The campus community has mobilized to support those who knew Ray. The Department of Athletics released a statement Monday expressing its support.
"Over the last several days, we have heard from so many people who said Jason went above the call of duty to brighten their days and make their child smile and laugh," Athletics Director Dick Baddour said in a statement.
"He may have performed in the anonymity that comes with playing the mascot, but his life has had an overt and lasting impact on the people whose lives he touched."
Jason Douglas, associate worship pastor at The Summit Church in Durham where Ray attended, said he sang in a college choir for the church. Douglas added that Ray was the type of person who always tried to find ways to help others.
"He always stuck around to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed," Douglas said.
Jolley said that at an InterVarsity leadership retreat this year the group took time to recognize seniors and that many spoke of the impact Ray had on their lives.
"He was also quick to turn that around," Jolley said. "He was humble and appreciative of the way people influenced him."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/26/07 4:00am)
UNC senior Jason Ray, a member of the cheerleading squad who has worn the Rameses mascot suit for the past three seasons, is still in critical condition after being struck by a car late Friday afternoon.
(03/26/07 4:00am)
Jason Ray, a UNC senior who wore the Rameses suit for three years, died Monday morning after being hit by an SUV Friday afternoon while walking along a New Jersey highway.
(03/23/07 4:00am)
Six months into a massive push to secure research funding from external sources, UNC officials are looking inward to examine priorities.
As the University seeks to reach a $1 billion funding goal by 2015, leaders said they hope to shore up UNC's research mission.
"This conversation comes at a very opportune time," Provost Bernadette Gray-Little told UNC Board of Trustee members while introducing a presentation on research priorities.
Tony Waldrop, vice chancellor for research and economic development, painted a broad picture of University research needs to trustees. Desired improvements center on infrastructure and funding needs.
Waldrop said that UNC does a good job without superior resources but that facilities must be improved to provide adequate support and retain and attract top-notch faculty.
"We have to build up the infrastructure that supports research," Waldrop said. "It's already stretched to the max."
When asked by trustees about specific funding needs, Waldrop replied that about $300 million for research facilities and $50 million for faculty is necessary. Of that, costs for faculty would be recurring.
Waldrop pointed to research support offices, which include the Office of Technology Development and Division of Lab Animal Medicine, as units in need of funds.
"These offices have not grown at the rate we've grown our research program," he said.
The offices have inadequate operating funds, and space and staffing also are lacking, Waldrop said.
Desired facilities include a building to house the new Biomedical Research Imaging Center and nanomedicine program, a Renaissance Computing Institute building and a pharmaceutical drug discovery and development building.
Board members said UNC should put its resources in areas where researchers stand the best chance of making a difference.
"I think it requires an understanding of what our research priorities are," said Nelson Schwab, chairman of the board, after the meeting.
Officials said collaborative ventures across disciplines yield some of the most promising results.
"That's the hallmark of what Carolina's about," said Bill Roper, dean of the UNC School of Medicine and CEO of UNC Health Care.
University officials said they will target state and corporate funding to meet needs, as well as look internally.
Corporate sources are a rarely tapped resource at the University. UNC ranks 90th nationally in industry support for research and development, while N.C. State University ranks 15th and Duke University ranks first.
In order to meet the $1 billion funding effort, officials said, UNC also will need to bump up grant efforts from traditional sources such as the National Institutes of Health.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(03/22/07 4:00am)
After years of discussion, plans to move the University's Medical Air Operations are moving forward, also signaling the waning days of a Chapel Hill staple, Horace Williams Airport.
The UNC Board of Trustees approved Wednesday a lease with Raleigh-Durham International Airport that will allow construction to begin in the fall on the $3.5 million new hangar and office space for Medical Air.
Medical Air provides transportation for the N.C. Area Health Education Centers, which send health care services and educational programs to underserved areas of the state. The lease will cost a maximum of about $4,560 per year, depending on the facility's square footage, and will last 40 years.
The move to RDU is needed to ensure that work on Carolina North, the University's planned satellite research campus, can go forward. The airport conflicts with the first phase of Carolina North's development and will not close until construction begins.
"It's a change, but it's something that we're going to make work," said Nadine O'Malley, N.C. AHEC associate director for administration and finance.
The longer commute to RDU will be the biggest change; Horace Williams is only a few miles from UNC's main campus, while RDU is almost 20 miles away.
The additional driving time could mean that doctors are able to see fewer patients, O'Malley said.
The lease's approval comes as the University is moving full steam ahead with Carolina North.
Trustees have set a deadline of October for plans to be submitted to the Chapel Hill Town Council, and three different development plans for the area are set to be unveiled during a University-sponsored session for public comment Tuesday.
Completion of the RDU facility should wrap up in fall 2008, about the same time that some UNC officials hope to have Carolina North plans approved by the council.
"It is definitely a sort of a milestone," Chapel Hill Town Council member Cam Hill said of the lease. But he added that the airport's closing shouldn't have any material impact on UNC's negotiations with the town.
The fate of Horace Williams Airport has been a matter of public contention for years. Plans to shut it down first surfaced about five years ago, and about two years ago members of the Board of Trustees voted to support a resolution to shut down the airport.
The closing also was supported by the N.C. Senate.
Concerns centered on a possible decrease in faculty interest in the program and a potential gap in air service.
Trustee Richard "Stick" Williams said he initially had reservations about the change.
"I think all of us have emotional ties to that airport site," Williams said. "It's really served the University well.
But he added that moving the operation from its Estes Drive Extension location should be beneficial in the long run.
"AHEC has the ability to really explode its mission, in my opinion."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(02/26/07 5:00am)
It's been a year, and Keith Shawn Smith's room in his Greensboro home remains largely untouched.
It's one of the few things that Gloria Smith said hasn't changed since her son's death a year ago on UNC's campus.
Altering Keith Shawn Smith's room is too difficult a task to tackle yet, she said Friday in Greensboro, a day before the one-year anniversary of her son's death.
The pictures show what Gloria Smith described as her son's trademark - his "Kool-Aid smile" - and the signs of his bright future.
"It's just hard," she said. "I packed them up for another time."
'Keepin' it movin''
A year ago UNC students Keith Shawn Smith and Tyler Downey were racing down the third-floor hallway of Stacy Residence Hall and crashed through a window, falling more than 30 feet.
What has been described as a freak accident - drugs or alcohol weren't involved early that Friday - sent then-freshman Downey to the hospital with critical injuries and took the life of sophomore Keith Shawn Smith.
Those who knew the sophomore resident adviser have coped with the loss in their own ways.
But Keith Shawn Smith's impact is undeniable. His friends, family and acquaintances speak of his determination, his loyalty and his ability to bring out the best in others.
"He was definitely the hardest worker I knew," said L'Oreal Neal, a UNC junior who dated Keith Shawn Smith since October 2003 - their senior year at Ben L. Smith High School in Greensboro.
Neal said the things that she once thought were odd or that she teased Keith Shawn Smith about now make more sense to her.
Motivational sayings were posted on the walls of his third-floor dorm room - a habit that Neal said she's taken up herself now.
Gloria Smith said her son's determination to push himself has led her to take up some new habits. Since the accident, she's started writing about his life and what has happened since his death.
Her motivation is to help those who have lost loved ones through the grieving process. "I'm mainly writing for mothers and those who lost family members," she said.
Friends of Keith Shawn Smith banded together after the accident to form a memorial fund to help the family pay for medical costs and funeral expenses. They have raised more than $2,000 so far.
"Keepin' it movin'" - Smith's motto - has been adopted as the group's catchphrase.
Gloria Smith said medical bills exceeded $3,000. A headstone will cost an additional $1,500.
The Keith Shawn Smith Memorial Fund, which meets every Tuesday, will give out its first scholarship this spring to a high school senior in Greensboro who plans to attend UNC. The amount will depend on how much the group raises.
"I just feel like it's unbelievable how much of an impact one person can have," said Shamelle Ingram, treasurer of the memorial fund. "That's something you usually see on television."
The memorial fund also will hold a second annual benefit show tonight. The show starts at 7 p.m. in the Union Auditorium. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door.
Building a community
In the aftermath of the accident, those who knew and loved Keith Shawn Smith have been forced to go about their daily lives.
Downey, whose injuries included a fracture of his first cervical vertebra and a closed head injury with bleeding in the brain, was released from the hospital about a week after the accident. He withdrew from UNC for the spring 2006 semester and returned to Asheville to recuperate.
This fall many of those who lived on the third floor of Stacy chose to remain a community and move next-door into the second floor or Everett Residence Hall. About 15 people traveled to Greensboro on Saturday to commemorate Keith Shawn Smith's life.
Senior Marc Guerra, who lived on the third floor of Stacy last year, said Keith Shawn Smith's vibrant personality allowed him to reach others. "I think he kind of rubbed off on everyone in the hall that way," Guerra said.
Larry Hicks, director of the Department of Housing and Residential Education, said Keith Shawn Smith was the prototype of a good RA - someone who engaged his residents.
"I truly believe that the manner in which he built that community helped them survive his death," Hicks said.
"The real role of an RA is someone who can be a mentor, adviser, leader . resource. Keith Shawn Smith was all of that."
Neal said her relationship with Gloria Smith has grown during the past year. She volunteered this summer at the Greensboro day care center where Gloria Smith has worked for 14 years and spent part of Christmas and Thanksgiving with the family.
"The relationship that her and I had really is nowhere near what it is now," Neal said. "It's very different from what it was."
Gloria Smith said she's turned to her family and God to help her through, but she acknowledged that it's been difficult, especially at first.
"I wanted to be alone, but then I didn't want to be alone," she said. "It's mixed feelings."
A legacy of leadership
Gloria Smith says her son always was determined, especially when it came to schoolwork and earning money. "He would come home, do his homework, then it's snack time," she said.
She recalled how once when Keith Shawn Smith was between jobs, he went out and bought paint and numbers, then went around fixing neighborhood mailboxes for money.
This focus spilled over into all aspects of his life and impacted those who knew him.
"He was a natural leader who grew natural leaders," Hicks said, adding that about five students applied to be RAs before Keith Shawn Smith's death because of his influence.
Neal, who now serves as an RA in Craige North Residence Hall, said Keith Shawn Smith helped coach her through the rigorous application process and celebrated the victory with her.
Neal said she tries to take a similar approach to her job this year by focusing on one-on-one interactions and connections outside the dorm.
"It really inspires me to be more determined about what I do."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
ATTEND THE BENEFIT
Time: 7 p.m. today
Location: Union Auditorium
Info: Tickets $5 in advance, $6 at the door
(02/13/07 5:00am)
A place at the Board of Trustees' table isn't the only perk voters get to award today.
When all is said and done and the next student body president is crowned, the doors of power will swing open, and the executive branch's head honcho will gain access to top information and officials at the University.
And that doesn't even include the other perks of power: a parking permit for any non-handicapped campus spot, lower-level seats to all home men's basketball games and a $300 per month stipend.
(01/30/07 5:00am)
According to a report released Monday by the state auditors office, 17 UNC Hospitals employees used faulty documentation to obtain their jobs.
Eight workers have been terminated and nine others resigned.
Three employees were using Social Security numbers of deceased individuals, four were using invalid numbers and 10 others had names that did not match the records of the Social Security Administration.
The majority of employees identified worked in housekeeping or dining, said Lynn Wooten, spokesman for UNC Hospitals.
The report also noted that the hospitals had not performed a quarterly verification of employee Social Security numbers.
These checks are not required by law but are recommended, said Chris Mears, director of public affairs for the Office of the State Auditor.
State agencies, however, are required to verify that all hires are eligible to work in the United States.
Employers have been able to access the Social Security Administration's database for about a year to check the status of their employees. Wooten said UNC Hospitals had problems making the transition to this new system.
"Everything is now in place, and we will immediately begin quarterly verifications," Wooten said.
Mears said the problems stemmed from older hires.
"As far as new hires, they are checking them in accordance with the law."
Of UNC Hospitals' 6,000 employees, 24 originally were flagged as potential violators, but seven employees were cleared after further investigation. Of those, some had Social Security numbers that were keyed into the payroll system incorrectly.
Bill Roper, CEO of UNC Health Care, declined comment Monday.
Mears said the report is part of a strategic-review initiative by the auditor's office. He said UNC Hospitals isn't the only agency or university to be investigated.
"This is the fourth of its kind recently," Mears said, noting that N.C. Central University, N.C. State University and the N.C. Department of Justice all have been under the microscope in recent months.
The N.C. State audit found eight employees using social security numbers that matched deceased people. Seven were clerical errors, while one worker was terminated.
"We are doing something new that is a proactive look at state agencies where we go in and actively look at the payroll and Social Security numbers," Mears said.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
UNC Hospitals Social Security number problems
A report released Monday by the N.C. Office of the State Auditor revealed that 17 employees of UNC Hospitals had problems with faulty documentation.
Four employees were signaled as having invalid Social Security numbers.
Three employees were using Social Security numbers belonging to a decreased person.
Ten others had names that did not match those of the Social Security Administration.
(01/29/07 5:00am)
As the ink dries on the University's latest round of tuition hikes, campus officials already are gearing up for the next time around.
Members of the UNC Board of Trustees voted Thursday morning to approve across-the-board tuition increases, but trustees said the student voice has not gone unheard in the process.
In the coming months, officials plan to take steps to achieve tuition predictability for out-of-state students and to reassess a philosophy that mandates the University's tuition limits.
That decision comes on the heels of one of the largest student protests about tuition in the past several years. About 200 students gathered in the board's Carolina Inn meeting room Thursday to express their disapproval of the increases.
"I think they really got the attention of the board members," trustee Richard "Stick" Williams said, noting that students have become more knowledgeable of the need for tuition increases to fill campus priorities such as faculty salaries.
"In the past, it appeared students were against tuition increases to be against increases."
The board passed hikes of $1,250 for out-of-state undergraduate students, $250 for in-state undergraduates and $500 for graduate students after hearing comments from students and campus officials.
"Clearly the final numbers aren't where we want them to be," Student Body President James Allred said after the meeting.
But Allred, an ex-officio trustee who was the only member to vote against the increases, said there are signs that trustees are on the right path. "Rethinking philosophy is huge," he said.
The largest points of contention during tuition discussions this year centered on the board's philosophy and the functions and importance of the tuition and fee advisory task force.
In 2004 the board approved a stance stating that out-of-state tuition could not exceed the 75th percentile of peer institutions cost and the 25th percentile for in-state students.
Those guidelines drew criticism as being arbitrary and not taking into account the University's actual needs. The tuition task force's recommendations placed out-of-state tuition at a $500 hike and would have generated $4.4 million - as opposed to the $5.9 million brought in by the approved increase.
Trustee Paul Fulton led the push for moving toward market-based increases.
His comment that UNC could increase out-of-state tuition by even more than $1,250 drew audible gasps and groans Thursday from the students assembled at the meeting.
Trustee John Ellison, a member of the tuition task force, said assessing this philosophy is a priority. "I believe we haven't spent enough time re-examining that," he said.
Allred said he also would like to see a measure related to predictability passed by the board's March or May meeting. Trustees Tim Burnett and Williams are set to complete their terms in May, prompting the desire for expediency.
The board originally passed a resolution calling for predictability at its January 2006 meeting, but trustees said they hope to make the language more specific.
In-state students already are provided for by a 6.5 percent cap introduced this fall by UNC-system President Erskine Bowles.
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/26/07 5:00am)
Facing a packed room of protesting students, the UNC Board of Trustees moved Thursday morning to approve campus tuition hikes.
Increases of $250 for resident undergraduates, $1,250 for nonresident undergraduates and $500 for graduate students were passed at the full board meeting. A student fee increase of $56.48 also will be added to the campus bill.
Student Body President James Allred, an ex-officio trustee, was the only dissenting vote among the 13 board members - marking the first time since 2004 that a student government leader has exercised the privilege.
(01/25/07 5:00am)
The Board of Trustees inched closer to approving across-the-board tuition hikes Wednesday.
At the meeting of the board's audit and finance committee, members unanimously recommended increases of $1,250 for nonresident undergraduate students, $250 for residents and $500 for graduate students.
The full 13-member board will convene at 8 a.m. today at the Carolina Inn's Chancellor's Ballroom East and West to vote on the proposal, which would generate $5.9 million.
Student Body President James Allred, an ex-officio trustee who is not a member of audit and finance, said he plans to advocate a lower figure today for out-of-state students, though he did not commit to any certain level.
"Students are reasonable," Allred said earlier this week. "We want to grow, but in a reasonable and fair way."
Provost Bernadette Gray-Little presented the recommendation, which was put forward by Chancellor James Moeser, to the committee. The proposal was similar to the one Moeser initially brought to the board's November meeting - with the exception that his out-of-state tuition recommendation then was $500.
The jump in nonresident tuition is necessary to close the gap between UNC and its peers when it comes to tuition levels and faculty salaries, some trustees said.
The board's tuition policy mandates that UNC's tuition not exceed the 25th percentile of its peer institutions when it comes to residents and the 75th percentile when it comes to nonresidents.
"As we reviewed this, we noticed that indeed we are falling further behind our peers," Gray-Little said.
Trustee Paul Fulton said the board needs to move more aggressively to reach these levels. He said marketplace trends point that UNC can levy increases without losing potential students to other schools.
According to information provided by the tuition and fee advisory task force, undergraduate nonresident tuition at UNC increased by 6.9 percent last year - compared with an average of 9 percent increases made by the University's peer schools.
"We haven't seriously made any moves to the 75th percentile," Fulton said. "We need some commitment to at least start closing the gap."
Nelson Schwab, chairman of the board, said he views the issue somewhat differently.
Schwab said increases should be based on the University's needs, such as better faculty and teaching assistant salaries, rather than just on peer tuition levels. "As long as we have needs, I'm comfortable justifying a tuition increase," he said.
The board's philosophy also rests on the assumption that the 75th percentile is an accurate measure, said John Ellison, a trustee who also served on the tuition task force.
Ellison said he would like to see more research on the effects of moving to this level before next year's rounds of talks.
"It may not be the best guideline for us to use," he said.
Trustees also are working with a new constraint this year. According to guidelines issued by UNC-system President Erskine Bowles this fall, increases for resident students are capped at 6.5 percent, making a $250 hike the ceiling this year.
Moeser said the cap will work only if the N.C. General Assembly provides enough funding for UNC.
"I think if the legislature fails us, the Board of Governors is going to have to re-examine that," he said. "I think it's a gesture of good faith from the University."
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(01/24/07 5:00am)
In one day another round of tuition increases likely will be in the books.
Members of the Board of Trustees said when they make their decision Thursday they must weigh the financial burden they place on students with the need for the University to maintain its national reputation.
It's a fine line to walk, and often there are no easy answers.
"I think it's important that we put the whole discussion in context," said Nelson Schwab, chairman of the board. "We should only raise tuition if it goes to meet needs."
(01/22/07 5:00am)
When tuition talks hit the table this week, members of UNC's Board of Trustees will be planning for years down the road.
Tuition predictability, a reaction to skyrocketing college costs across the nation, gained favor during last year's tuition discussions when board members adopted a formal policy of long-term planning.
But despite the gloss surrounding predictability, some say officials merely are paying lip service to the idea.
"I think predictability was talked about a lot, but I don't believe it was considered," said Lauren Anderson, Graduate and Professional Student Federation president, who participated in discussions as a member of the tuition and fee advisory task force this year.
"It was the idea in the room that never makes its way to paper."
In fact, the only segment of the student population that is subject to a locked-in tuition policy this year is undergraduate in-state students. And that comes as a result of efforts by UNC-system President Erskine Bowles - not the trustees.
According to guidelines introduced by Bowles this fall, increases for these students cannot exceed 6.5 percent - or about $250.
Trustees are expected to approve near the maximum amount.
Out-of-state students and graduate students do not have any set rates for the long term yet, though the board might adopt an informal policy when it convenes.
Out-of-state tuition is expected to increase in the $1,100 to $1,200 range, while graduate students might receive a reprieve from increases this year.
Student Body President James Allred, an ex-officio trustee, said other board members are motivated by another part of their tuition philosophy. According to that policy, UNC's tuition must remain within the 25th percentile of peer institutions for in-state students and the 75th percentile for out-of-state students.
"The other trustees will tell you that they do have a predictable philosophy for tuition," said Allred, who noted that members of the board would like to inch closer to these upper limits.
"Obviously, I would like to see us move toward a dollar amount that could predictably be expected," he said.
Allred's predecessor, Seth Dearmin, introduced last year's resolution, which passed unanimously and amended the trustees' tuition philosophy to consider predictability to be "over the short and long term a core element."
"The idea in and of itself came from looking at what other schools do," said Dearmin, who campaigned for office on a platform that promised students predictability.
"I don't know of anybody who takes the stance that they want tuition to go up," he added.
"But everybody understands that it is going up."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/16/07 5:00am)
In just more than a week UNC's Board of Trustees will meet to vote on a tuition policy that could have a long-lasting effect on how out-of-state tuition is determined.
Officials have worked for months crafting tuition proposals, but the offer now on the table differs significantly from those discussed earlier.
Nonresident undergraduate students are set to take the biggest hit, Student Body Vice President Brian Phelps said.
Trustees are discussing raising out-of-state tuition by about $1,000 for each of the next four years, helping UNC inch closer to its peer institutions' price tags, Student Body President James Allred said.
Nonresident tuition would increase by upward of about $1,200 for the 2007-08 academic year.
The plan differs from one put forward by Chancellor James Moeser at the board's November meeting. At the time Moeser suggested looking into establishing a locked-in tuition rate for nonresident undergraduates.
According to the board's policy, in-state tuition cannot exceed the 25-percent mark of peer institutions, and out-of-state tuition cannot exceed the 75-percent mark.
Allred, who also serves as an ex-officio member of the board, said he still is trying to understand the logic behind this particular policy.
He said he worries that strides toward this mark could hurt the UNC's public feel and its diversity.
"We're completely ignoring the process that we've set up. . Unfortunately, students are getting kicked to the curb on this," Phelps said.
Now is the time for students to make their voices heard, Phelps said. "Students really do feel that they are being looked at as cash cows," he said, adding that student government officials are working with the Out-of-State-Student Association and other student groups to increase awareness before next week's vote.
Mobilizing students is particularly problematic given the climate of tuition increases in higher education, Allred said.
"I think that people are becoming used to large tuition increases," he said. "It certainly is the norm across the country. It's becoming the norm at public universities. It's becoming the norm here."
Members of the board voted last January to increase tuition by $250 for in-state undergraduate students, $1,100 for out-of-state undergraduates and $500 for graduate students.
Similar increases passed the year before. Both faced minimal student protest.
Lauren Anderson, Graduate and Professional Student Federation president, said the most challenging part about mobilizing students is determining who increases will affect.
"I think everyone is interested because they want to be informed, but as far as getting involved, it's going to be the ones who take (increases) personally."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/11/07 5:00am)
Students scrounging for textbook bargains have a new option this semester.
Ram Book & Supply, located at 306 W. Franklin St., is offering a textbook rental program that gives students their books at a reduced rate - something that UNC officials discussed but chose not to pursue.
"It was probably the No. 1 thing that students asked us for, frankly, so we thought it would be a very popular program with the students," said Scott Cardais, owner of the store.
Students who use the rental program pay less than they would if they bought a new or used book. The one catch is that participants also must dole out for a security deposit.
For example, a rental textbook for Geology 101 costs $40.90 plus a $32 security deposit, which brings the total cost to the same as that of a used geology book - $72.90.
Rental books must be returned by May 15, and students can collect the security deposit at that time. Those who decide to keep their rental textbooks at the end of the semester will forfeit their deposit.
Cardais said store officials decided to implement a deposit because they have no way of forcing students to return their rentals, noting that if the University had such a program it could freeze student accounts.
"We've got no recourse if the student doesn't bring the book back," Cardais said.
Rising textbook costs, which are often blamed on frequent new additions of texts and the inclusion of extra software with books, prompted the UNC system to call for system schools to study ways to reduce costs.
Leaders specifically asked that the 16-system schools examine rental programs.
Steve Allred, UNC-Chapel Hill executive associate vice provost and chairman of the ad hoc textbook committee, said its analysis showed that renting wouldn't be viable.
He cited the committee's report, which was sent to UNC-system officials in December, saying that such a program would be productive for only large freshmen and sophomore introductory classes.
The report also states that the benefits of a rental program would not outweigh costs such as unreturned or damaged books.
Student Stores' profits also benefit scholarships, and the success of programs such as the Carolina Covenant - a program that allows low-income UNC students to graduate debt-free - depends on this contribution, the report notes.
"The bottom line is that we looked at it and determined that it really didn't work for us," Allred said.
Some students said they don't think they would use a rental program if it were offered.
While perusing the book selection at Ram Book & Supply Wednesday afternoon, senior Adelaide Zahren, an English major, said she probably wouldn't take advantage of a rental program.
"I like to keep my books," she said.
Cardaid said so far reaction to the rentals has been mixed, adding that once students have had the program explained to them, they have been receptive to it.
Cardais said the success of the store's program will be evaluated based on feedback from students.
"The No. 1 uncertainty is whether the book will be used again."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
(01/10/07 5:00am)
The campus community will see some changes this semester with the completion of several high-profile construction projects.
Projects that wrapped up during Winter Break included the opening of South Road to two-way traffic and the completion of the move of the chemistry department to Caudill Labs and Chapman Hall.
Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning and construction, said officials also concentrated on a number of smaller projects while students were away.
(01/10/07 5:00am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>When Chancellor James Moeser arrived at UNC in 2000, he declared that the University must increase its international focus if it is to succeed as a top-notch institution.
Shortly after his appointment to the chancellor position, he pinpointed three areas in which UNC could improve in the global arena: