This year, UNC System colleges and universities asked the UNC Board of Governors to increase tuition…again. Some students I have talked to don’t seem to know exactly why.
In January, former UNC System President Erskine Bowles proposed a $200 tuition increase for all 16 institutions. The Board of Governors approved the proposal in February.
In July, a supplemental increase was approved with an average increase of 15.5 percent.
Although we had a $546 increase, our in-state undergrads still pay less than most of the other institutions in the System. The increase proposed by the 16 institutions is supposed to offset the state budget cuts and protect academic quality.
As a student who is not fortunate enough to be able to pay out of pocket or receive grants, a tuition increase is not what I want as far as requesting more loans and having to pay back more money.
But it is very important for students to understand that a tuition increase is better than having academic programs cut. Education is very important to me, and I am willing to pay for it. I would rather pay more than have the quality of my education suffer.
Some students ask ‘Why should we pay more for nothing new?’
The System already froze salaries, cut 900 administrative jobs, and faces another $142 million in cuts. The last thing UNC System wants to do is raise tuition, but what other options are there?
In comparison to other public universities in the country, UNC System colleges and universities are paying less than their peers and comparing WSSU to other UNC System schools out-of-state undergraduate students pay the least and in-state undergrads pay the second least after Elizabeth City State University.
WSSU grad students pay less than 12 other institutions in the UNC System.
Although we do have to pay more for a better quality education, we are actually fortunate to pay less than say, Aggies or Eagles.
I would like to hear from students, faculty, administrators and even alumni to see how you feel about tuition increases, low enrollment and other issues and successes of Winston- Salem State.