Kept in the dark

KEPT IN THE DARK

Students should know more about any problems or delays related to matters that affect them, including a tuition price sensitivity study.

T

he announcement at Thursday's UNC Board of Trustees meeting that results of a tuition price sensitivity study would be delayed was surprising. Students might be confused as to why they weren't informed beforehand of any potential delays.

Frankly, officials involved with the study should have informed the University community earlier that the conclusions wouldn't be available in as timely a manner as they initially put forth.

Students have an interest in knowing how the study progresses, even if UNC officials and the consulting firm conducting the study are the true experts. We are serving as the guinea pigs for an experiment in tuition policy.

It is the right of students to know that each step is being taken very carefully, and we shouldn't be kept in the dark by those conducting the study between meetings of the University's Board of Trustees.

We are just as interested in how the University fares in the long run as any other group involved. The value of our degrees is being put at stake, after all.

The fact that officials might need more time to put together a comprehensive report is understandable, but they shouldn't feel that they are free from their accountability to students.

For many years, UNC has carved out a niche as the affordable option among the top-tier universities for both in-state and out-of-state students. Should trustees add to their January decision in stepping away from this strategy, they need to have all the tools available to guide them.

Meanwhile, it's not unreasonable to claim that UNC has begun losing its image as an affordable school. Of course, tuition guidelines shouldn't be geared toward improving any sort of ranking - but a decline in UNC's reputation is certainly a reason for concern.

It's unfortunate that the BOT had the price sensitivity study on its agenda for last week's meeting but didn't receive any new information. Officials said the study, conducted by Art & Science Group LLC, should be ready by the BOT's November meetings.

Those meetings are scheduled for Nov. 17 and 18. Students should know before then if there are to be any more delays.