Gov. Pat McCrory must not read our editorials. On Wednesday he released his first spending plan which includes $138 million in cuts from the UNC System, according to the University of North Carolina General Administration. This adds more concern than just McCrory privatizing public education.
We first became concerned about privatization in February after McCrory’s interview with conservative radio host Bill Bennett. He remarked, “Frankly, if you want to take gender studies, that’s fine, go to a private school and take it. But I don’t want to subsidize that if that’s not going to get someone a job.” Technician retaliated against his idea that technical education reigns supreme to liberal arts education in our Feb. 1 editorial, “In defense of liberal arts.”
Although McCrory proposed spending $63 million over two years to implement the UNC System’s strategic plan which would increase efficiency, the state would acquire these funds through the $138 million cuts and an increase in out-of-state tuition.
McCrory recommended a 12.3 percent increase in out-of-state tuition for six of the UNC System’s 17 flagship schools, including N.C. State. He proposed a 6 percent increase for the remaining 11 schools. The budget reasons that “Campuses identified for a 12.3 percent increase in nonresident tuition were selected because their combined tuition and fees were significantly lower than their peer average.”
Next school year’s out-of-state tuition at N.C. State is $19,493 per year, not including required fees. Nonresidents will see this number increase to $21,890.63 with the 12.3 percent increase. Art Pope, state budget director, says this will help compensate for the cuts. Despite the fact that Forbes listed Raleigh as the fourth fastest growing city in the United States in January, it is doubtful that the allure of Research Triangle Park will be enough to attract an adequate number of out-of-state students to offset the cuts if tuition becomes more comparable to private schools than to public.
McCrory continues his support for technical schools by appropriating $28 million over two years to increase technical education programs at community colleges, according to WRAL. The budget also shows his loyalty to primary education, as he appropriated another $28 million over two years to improve third grade reading scores and planned to add 5,000 pre-kindergarten slots at the cost of $52.4 million over two years.
Primary education is important in teaching students the fundamentals, but most jobs that are respectable enough to be called “careers” require a college education, something the governor should support, if he listened to himself. McCrory might argue that we should all attend technical school, but it’s the innovative minds and free thinkers found on a university campus that will be the company creators and highly skilled employees. What makes RTP great is its proximity to some of the best universities in the country. RTP, the economic model that transformed North Carolina from a textile and tobacco state into a research and technology marvel, thrives from public support for higher education. The UNC System is still recovering from $400 million cuts from two years ago. This current budgetary insult has Tom Ross, president of the UNC System, up in arms.
“I worry about the impact additional reductions will have on our ability to provide high-quality educational opportunities … to assist in North Carolina’s economic recovery,” Ross said in a statement Wednesday regarding McCrory’s proposed budget.
The chancellors of each UNC System university will be responsible for deciding where to make cuts to meet McCrory’s new budget. Maybe Chancellor Woodson will read our editorials.
