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Computer
Science Students Association
unc chapel hill |
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| Background |
On Monday, November 20th, 2006, the Daily Tar Heel published an article titled "Locked tuition under review". Most relevant to our situation are the third and fourth paragraphs:Moeser suggested Thursday at the Board of Trustees meeting that out-of-state undergraduate students receive a one-time increase in tuition, effective fall 2007.
The proposal, which aims to improve predictability for these students, would mean that nonresidents would pay a consistent tuition rate for four years.
Though this proposal sounds good on the surface, I feel it would be harmful to us, and, indeed, graduate and professional students in general. So, I sent a letter via email to Chancellor James Moesler.
I am posting this letter here to be accountable to my constituents and to give them an opportunity to respond.
| The Letter |
Hello Chancellor Moeser,
Today I read in "The Daily Tarheel" that, in the recent Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16, you proposed to "lock" tuition rates for out-of-state undergraduate students. I am writing in response to this initiative. Unfortunately, the minutes from that meeting are not yet posted on the website; I hope my note is not too ignorant.
I am currently the president of the Computer Science Student Association (CSSA). The CSSA is made up of graduate students in the computer science department at UNC.
My concern, as graduate student and representative of other graduate students, is that this initiative will harm us. "Locking" tuition for one class of students--whether by fixing tuition or capping the rate of increase each year--harms the other classes who are not protected by such locks. When an unplanned budget shortfall occurs, it is the unprotected classes that must shoulder much of the burden. If this initiative succeeds, that burden will fall to the graduate (and professional) students.
I support tuition promises for students. It is important that students can have assurances that rising tuition rates will not jeopardize their degree while it is in progress. However, tuition promises for only some students will harm the remainder. Please consider increasing the protection to graduate and professional students.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Jeff Terrell
President, Computer Science Student Association
Ph.D. student, computer science department, UNC-CH
| The Response |
Jeff, I am responding to the email you sent expressing concern about locking in tuition for new non-resident undergraduates next year. This, of course, is predicated as an alternative to very healthy annual increases for non-resident undergraduates.
Your concern, I believe, is about the potential unintended consequences on graduate and professional students, in teh event that we have future budget cuts. First, you should know that the trustees are very sensitive to graduate tuition. There is no plan to raise graduate tuition beyond minimal levels for the simple reason that most graduate students receive remissions from the university to lower the non-resident to resident rates. Thus, we gain nothing from increasing non-resident graduate tuition.
There is a different policy for professional schools, where tuition will continue to rise to market levels in certain programs.
I do not believe that locking in tuition at new and much higher rates for a new generation of undergraduates places an unfair or looming burden of higher tuition increases on current students.
I hope this is helpful to you.
James Moeser, Chancellor
(Dated Thu, 30 Nov 2006)
| University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
Computer Science, Sitterson Hall Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3175 USA |
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