UNC student fees likely to increase this fall

Nothing lasts forever — including student fee decreases.

Last year, student fees were decreased by about $10 after UNC finished paying off the debt incurred due to construction of the Student Recreation Center.

But this year, multiple proposals for fee increases are on the table.

The University’s student fee advisory subcommittee, which is made up of students and administrators, will have its first meeting of the year today. The group is charged with reviewing changes to fee amounts and voting on their implementation.

Fees could receive more attention this year since in-state tuition is already set for next year, said Shrija Ghosh, student body treasurer.

She added that realistically, some fee increases will be approved.

“I’d love to say (fees are going to be lowered again), but unfortunately, fees will not be lowered like they were last year,” she said.

“A lot of departments are asking for fee increases to combat inflation and those are reasonable requests.”

Winston Crisp, vice chancellor for student affairs, said he suspects there will be numerous requests for fee increases this fall.

“There will always be a desire to keep fees low, but the challenge is balancing that desire with the need to provide appropriate services to support student education,” Crisp said.

Ghosh said a previous freeze on some special fees has been lifted, so student leaders will also likely hear requests to increase those fees.

There will be about seven new fee requests this year, including fees for graduate programs and a new fraternity and sorority member fee, Ghosh said, which will be proposed as an additional source of funding for an “increased level of service” by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Community Involvement.

While students could face new fees this spring, they might also see an increase in fees they already pay.

The student transit fee, for example, could see an increase, said Michael Bertucci, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Federation.

Last year, the fee became the center of debate when the student fee advisory subcommittee approved only $8.74 of a requested $14.50 increase. Department of Public Safety officials said service might have to be cut back due to a lack of funds.

Bertucci said this was largely the result of a 2002 decision to make the Chapel Hill Transit buses fare-free.

The revenue from campus parking has subsidized the majority of past transit expenses but DPS is trying to reduce it, Bertucci said. This will require the department to request a fee increase much larger than in the past.

“The transit fee is going up for a larger fee increase than last year,” Ghosh said. “I’m sure that will spark some debate.”

But she said she feels optimistic about the year.

“Everyone asking for these fee increases always goes the extra mile to help us understand why they need them,” she said.

Student Body President Will Leimenstoll said he is committed to making sure that students are not unnecessarily charged for fees.

“We don’t want to charge students for things they don’t deem necessary,” he said.

“We’re looking at fee increases that may seem small but really can add up.”

Contact the desk editor at university@dailytarheel.com.