The UNC Board of Governors unanimously agreed to the proposed tuition increase Friday morning during the Board of Governors meeting. The average proposed tuition increase is $284 and the average fee increase is $79.

The next line of business was approval for the construction of 20 capital improvements projects at 11 institutions that total $554,810,566, and authorization for two campuses to plan projects totaling $14,590,741. This was a decrease from the original $769,877,365 proposed. The projects aim to improve retention and graduation rates.

“It should be clarified that these projects are needed and financially viable,” Hannah Gage, chairman of the Board, said.

The Board approved motions for all projects. N.C. State had three capital improvements projects approved.

While adding to the financial burden, the Board also approved of discontinuing 60 low producing programs across the UNC system, four of which come from the College of Education. Two programs, French Language and Literature and Spanish Language and Literature, were approved to merge into Foreign Language and Literature.

UNC President Tom Ross wants the system to still keep tuition low and remain flexible in the coming budget season.

“Our top priority for this session has to be sustaining our ability to prepare an educated workforce essential to economic recovery and economic competitiveness,” Ross said, “and we must avoid any permanent damage to the University.”

Discontinued Programs

Middle Grades Education M.Ed. & M.S.

Curriculum and Instruction, English M.Ed. & M.S.

Curriculum & Instruct, Reading M.Ed. & M.S.

Curriculum and Instruct, Social Studies M.Ed. & M.S.