UNC-system President Thomas Ross announced today he will not support tuition and fee increases that exceed 10 percent for any system school.
Ross’ announcement came in response to campus-initiated tuition proposals that averaged 9.6 percent for next year. His final recommendation will be sent to members of the Board of Governors this month.
UNC-CH’s Board of Trustees approved in November a tuition increase of 15.6 percent for in-state students. This proposal, which was met with disapproval from Student Body President Mary Cooper and several other students and former administrators, will not be supported by Ross.
“I promise to recommend to you what is best for the University of North Carolina and our students and our state,” Ross told the board meeting.
Bruce Carney, executive vice chancellor and provost for UNC, said the University’s Board of Trustees will continue to talk to Board of Governors members to seek approval of the 15.6 percent increase.
The University’s plan would have also raised tuition by $2,800 or 40 percent during the next five years. At the Board of Governors meeting today, Ross said he would not support any tuition proposals that applied to more than two years.
“It’ll be different from what we proposed and expected,” Carney said. “I’m still in wait-and-see mode.”
Although students marched down to the General Administration building, where the board was meeting today, to protest the tuition increases, Carney said many more have complained about losing course sections and not being able to get the classes they need to graduate.
