The General Assembly has recently addressed two pieces of legislation that will be of great consequence for the UNC system. These policies, which are ultimately written by politicians, will have to be put into effect by the UNC administration, like Senate Bill 873 and NCGAP.
Senate Bill 873, sought to set tuition at 5 UNC system schools at $500 dollars a semester, as well reduce student fees and set limits on increases.
But according to the bill’s sponsor Senator Tom Apodaca, Fayetteville State, Elizabeth City State and Winston Salem State, all HBCUs, will be dropped from a bill due to backlash.
Western Carolina and UNC Pembroke will still be included.
Students and teachers from HBCU’s rallied in Raleigh against the bill Wednesday. Critics say it will create a deficit for the schools and diminish the value of their education.
The 60-80 million dollar loss in tuition revenue would be covered by the state’s general fund, at least this year.
The bill has been included in the Senate’s budget proposal, so Apodaca will have to introduce a budget amendment to remove those three schools from the bill.
Speaking at a press conference last Thursday, UNC President Margaret Spellings said they were working with the general assembly on Senate Bill 873.
Spellings said the actual value of those degrees won’t change, just the cost students will pay. She admitted they will still have to explain that to prospective students.
“What the sticker price is and what the amount the student actually pays I think are always different. That’s why explaining, marketing, conveying how this will work will be a big part of it,” said Spellings.
Lou Bissette, chairman of the Board of Governors said the bill was a step in the right direction.
“It’s really refreshing to see the legislature coming forward with some ideas and some funding, I mean this is going to cost them a lot of money so I’m extremely pleased they’re thinking about affordability and they are prepared to put the money where their mouth is,” said Bissette. “We are actively working together so we can all support this bill in the end.”
And as far as the Board of Governors input on SB 873, Spellings was sure their interests would be heard.
“We will have our input before this piece of legislation is enacted, that is the main thing,” said Spellings.
NCGAP is another piece of legislation that will have a big effect on enrollment in the UNC system. The program is designed to send more students to community college by either increasing acceptance standards or decreasing enrollment of freshman. The General Assembly recently approved delaying the program, after the Board of Governors requested it not start until 2018.
Spellings said had been asked by the General Assembly to bring them a plan addressing changes to the program.
“They’re asking us, the Board of Governors and me to develop a plan to address those issues between now and the 2017 legislative session. They’ve rightly identified a problem a problem of affordability and access,” said Spellings.
Opponents of NCGAP said it will mostly affect lower achieving schools in the UNC system.
The Board of Governors was mostly appointed by the Republican majority legislature.
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