A recent tuition proposal has sparked some opposition among students, specifically in the Student S enate .
The “catch-up” tuition proposal suggests a tuition increase of $1,500 over the next five years, bringing the University’s tuition to the upper level of the lower tier of tuition rates in the state.
A bill passed Wednesday by the S tudent S enate entitled, “A Resolution to be Entitled an Act to Oppose ‘The Catch-Up’ Tuition Increase That Was Supported by the Board of Trustees,” opposed not only the proposed increase itself, but also the way in which it was brought up.
Patrick Devore , chair of the Student Senate’s tuition fee committee, says that this action on the part of student government is historic.
“The bill opposed the increase which was approved by the Board of Trustees and went to student body president, Chandler Thompson, to sign,” Devore said. “We’re really hoping something good comes out of this for students because the way this was passed was really irresponsible.”
Devore referred to the fact that this tuition increase was proposed after the annual campus initiated increase had gone through. The annual increase is approved and expected by students of the university, but the new “catch-up” increase was unexpected and had not been discussed with the student senate.
“I won’t deny that N.C . State could use the increase, but when you’re talking about $1500 over five years, you need to talk with students first,” said Devore .
Student body president Chandler Thompson says that she has gotten mixed reviews about the increase.
“Some students are obviously opposed, but there are also some who support the increase because they’re concerned about class sizes increasing and have really felt the recent budget cuts affecting their education,” Thompson said.
Thompson plans to host an open conversation in the brickyard when the next semester commences.
Brian Hoynack , president of the graduate student assembly and graduate studying public administration, pointed out that the increase, if passed, could end up being swallowed by the legislature.
“There are a lot of unknowns at this point, but it appears to me that N.C . State will only pass this proposed increase if they can be assured that it will be used for the university,” Hoynack said. “If we increase tuition, there’s a chance that the legislature could take that money in appropriations, leaving us in the same position we are in now. We need assurance that this won’t be the case.”
According to Hoynack , graduate students are not overreacting to the proposed increase.
“Obviously students aren’t pleased, so we can oppose the bill, but ultimately these increases are somewhat inevitable,” Hoynack said.
Patrick Devore , however, disagrees. According to Devore , the fact that the Student Senate is getting involved offers some hope of greater consideration being given to the increase.
“This is the first time the student government has opposed something so strongly. I highly doubt that the Board of Governors is just going to rubber stamp it without opening any conversation up with the students,” Devore said.
Both Devore and Thompson urge students to get involved in whatever ways available to them. They suggest students contact their senators and submit stories of how tuition increases have and will affect them to the UNC Association of Student Government’s “Cuts Hurt” campaign.
“We’re going to try and compile a video with stories of how budget cuts have hurt their education,” Thompson said.
Their hope is that the action by the Student Senate, in addition to student involvement and the “Cuts Hurt” campaign, may lead to a change in the way the state handles educational budgeting.
