UNC Asheville's Board of Trustees unanimously
approved proposed tuition and fees for the 2009-10 academic year at
its regular meeting December 20. The recommendation, which now moves
to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for
consideration in early 2009, originated with campus tuition and fee
committees, made up of faculty, students and administrators.
The board approved a $75 increase in annual tuition for in-state
students and a $437 increase in annual tuition for out-of-state
students. If the tuition increase is approved, 25 percent will be
set aside for students receiving need-based financial aid, 25
percent will go toward faculty salaries, and 50 percent will go
toward faculty and staff retention.
"It is always difficult to vote for tuition and fee increases,
especially in economic times like these, and we are mindful of the
financial challenges that students and their families may be
facing," said Board of Trustees Chair Al Whitesides. "But even with
the increase, UNC Asheville remains a tremendous value and will be
operating on a very tight budget."
UNC Asheville consistently ranks as one of the best values in the
nation in higher education. It has made the Fiske Guide to Colleges'
"Best Buy" list for the past 15 years, is ranked third among the top
10 best value colleges in the nation by the Princeton Review, and is
among the Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's 100 best value
public colleges and universities.
The tuition increase for UNC Asheville is within the guidelines set
by the University of North Carolina Board of Governors for the 16
UNC campuses. Under the formula developed for the UNC system, UNC
Asheville may increase in-state undergraduate tuition by 3.2
percent, said John Pierce, UNC Asheville vice chancellor for finance
and campus operations. The tuition increase is expected to generate
roughly $360,000.
The recommendation also included a $106.10 increase in annual
student fees. The $15 increase in the student health fee that will
be used to improve an electronic medical records system, and the $15
increase in the athletic fee will go toward securing off-campus
tennis facilities for use by students and the University's tennis
team. The $25 increase in student activities fee will be used to
expand student co-curricular programming.
The $50 increase in the education and technology fee includes $23 to
upgrade classroom Internet technology, $17 for expansion of campus
wireless service, and, in response to student requests, $10 for an
international education initiative. The $1.60 increase in the
transportation and safety fee, requested by UNC Asheville's Student
Government Association, will expand the Emergency Ride Back to
Campus service.
UNC Asheville's current tuition and fees total $4,255 for full-time,
in-state students and $15,585 for full-time out-of-state students,
both of which are well below the national average and within the
bottom 25th percentile of a peer group of public universities
designated by the UNC system. According to the College Board's
annual "Trends in College Pricing" report, the average published
tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities in
2008-09 is $6,585 for in-state students and $17,452 for out-of-state
students.
“These tuition and fee increases are needed by
UNC Asheville to preserve our high quality of education, especially
in this time when state appropriations will likely be affected by
the state budget situation,” Pierce said.
Room and board rates were also increased, with the standard meal
plan increasing $140 (from $2,860 to $3,000) for the 2009-10
academic year, and a standard double room increasing $130 (from
$3,760 to $3,890).
With the proposed increases, a typical in-state student living on
campus would pay an additional $451.10 for the year, bringing the
total cost for tuition, fees, room and board to $11,326.45 for
2009-10. Out-of-state students would pay an additional $813.10 for
the year, for a total of $23,018.45.
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