BOG Mulls Funding Concerns

The board also formally approved an increase in tuition that the N.C. General Assembly passed last month.

System schools must mail additional bills for the fall semester that is now a month old.

Several schools, including UNC-Charlotte and N.C. State University, factored a legislative tuition increase into their original tuition bills, which would mean most in-state students at those schools might not receive additional bills.

Jim Phillips, chairman of the board's Committee on Public Affairs, stressed the importance of continuing to show support for members of the legislature who are leaders in promoting the interests of the system.

"There needs to be a continuing and public show of support," he said.

Besides discussing tuition, the board also addressed enrollment funding.

System officials set a goal of enrolling 5,400 more students this year than last.

But UNC-system President Molly Broad said the goal was exceeded and that the final count is 7,100 additional students.

"There is a standard within higher education that the maximum (a system) can grow is three percent," she said. "This is 4.3 percent. I'm so proud of the chancellors and campuses that have done this in the face of the budget being cut."

Broad said North Carolina's budget deficit, which nears $1 billion, will prevent lawmakers from providing funds to deal with the additional 1,700 students who were enrolled beyond the projected goal.

UNC Association of Student Governments President Andrew Payne expressed concern that the increased enrollment would put a strain on both institutional and state-sponsored financial aid.

He said one of the main reasons students drop out of school is because of a high debt.

He added that the ASG plans to continue its campaign to register young voters this year.

The group registered 4,000 voters in the past few weeks as a result of work with the N.C. Public Interest Research Group.

But one subject never far from the minds of the board members was Tuesday's terrorist attacks on New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania.

BOG Chairman Ben Ruffin said the he considered canceling the meeting but decided it was better to continue as usual.

He added that one board member could not catch a flight back from Seattle and could not attend the board meeting. The Federal Aviation Administration closed airports nationwide from Tuesday to Thursday in response to the terrorist attacks.

Broad commended the chancellors and university ministries for helping maintain a sense of community.

She said, "During this time of loss, we must maintain a sense of civility and tolerance, values that are so dear to the University."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.