Other schools might see tuition autonomy

UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State University are no longer the only state universities that could gain tuition autonomy.

Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, said Tuesday that a proposal dealing with a university’s right to govern its own tuition practices would not be reserved for the two institutions.

“If it does (pass), it will include a couple of other schools,” he said. “North Carolina has more than two research institutions.”

Black cited three other institutions he said should be added: UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Greensboro and East Carolina University.

All three universities are research institutes, according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education system.

The debate began earlier this summer when the N.C. House excluded tuition autonomy from its budget version.

The Senate version included the provision, implying that both UNC-CH and NCSU should govern their tuition levels.

Considered the flagship universities of the UNC system, both institutions hold great weight in discussions.

Others have said the system is too large for the UNC-system Board of Governors to adequately govern tuition of all 16 campuses.

But several members of the Board of Governors carry a different viewpoint, instead disapproving of the fact that the provision bypasses their ability to govern tuition, said Hannah Gage, BOG member.

The debate has definitely caught their eye, she said.

“I think we are all anxiously watching to see what happens to the provision in the (N.C.) General Assembly that gives Chapel Hill and North Carolina State tuition authority,” Gage said.

“There is enormous concern over the Chapel Hill political action committee. All members of the assembly find their actions very troubling.”

Some legislators made similar remarks, holding true to the BOG.

“I think that it’s not of the best interest of all the 16 campuses,” said Sen. Ellie Kinnaird, D-Orange. “I think we’ve got to find a different way to go.”

Some students have even begun voicing their opinions, said Rep. Marian McLawhorn, D-Pitt, who serves the ECU constituency.

“I have received some e-mails from students in my district who are not in favor of this,” she said. “Most of the e-mails say, ‘Don’t treat two universities different from the others.’”

UNC-CH Student Congress passed a resolution opposing the provision.

Allowing for tuition autonomy for any university could have serious consequences, said House Majority Leader Joe Hackney, D-Orange.

“It damages by decreasing the legislature’s interest in financially taking care of someone that has financial autonomy,” he said. “It’s an ‘Oh, let them take care of it on their own’ argument.”

As the budget process continues into August, the issue appears to become only more complex.

Said Kinnaird: “They’re all just trying to work out the differences and make a compromise.”

Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.