North Carolina Students Demand A Vote At The Board of Governors
Tuition at public colleges in North Carolina has increased an astounding 35% in past 5 years! It comes as no surprise that the UNC Board of Governors, the council that approves tuition increases, does not give voting rights to the only student representative. Students should have a say in how their schools operate, from raising tuition to ensuring quality academics.
Sign the petition to tell your lawmaker to give voting rights to the Board of Governors Student Representative!
Dear North Carolina Lawmaker,
To keep North Carolina’s economy healthy and vibrant, the state must make it easier for young North Carolinians to get the higher education they need to improve their chances of finding work and earning decent wages.
Unfortunately, our universities are being asked to do more with less – causing tuition at the state’s four-year public universities to soar 35 percent since the Great Recession. This has happened in part because – for far too long – students have been shut out of the governing process. Currently, the UNC System Board of Governors does not grant voting privileges to its sole student representative.
For students, the Board of Governors is one of the most important governing authorities in the state – setting tuition prices, support for research, caps on financial aid, and university housing rules.
I believe that students paying into the UNC system should have a say about how their money is being spent. Empowering the student representative on the Board of Governors with voting rights would be a win for students.
I urge you to grant voting privileges to a student representative on the UNC Board of Governors.
N.C. colleges need to curb tuition hikes
By Rusty Mau
Article IX, Section 9, of the N.C. Constitution reads, “The General Assembly shall provide that the benefits of The University of North Carolina and other public institutions of higher education, as far as practicable, be extended to the people of the State free of expense.” The General Assembly’s commitment to this mandate is the reason North Carolina has always been a national leader in providing affordable higher education to its residents.
North Carolina
Every state faces unique challenges and opportunities in financing its higher education system. Here's what's been happening in North Carolina lately, and how we're working with students to make affordable college a reality for all North Carolinians.
Click here to download our break down of North Carolina's budget process.
