UNC tuition increase will have hard consequences

Winston-Salem Journal
Editorial
February 15, 2012

As the UNC Board of Governors voted Friday for a 9 percent average tuition increase at the system's 16 campuses, angry students protested outside.... The BOG had no choice. The General Assembly has slashed the UNC budget over the past four years, and last year alone cut $414 million. Teachers have been fired, classes canceled and other classes jammed full of students.

Not only is the quality of education suffering on UNC campuses, so are jobs. As highly skilled professors leave because of budget cuts, they take their research grants with them. The people who were paid by the private or federal grants either transfer with the professor or look for other work....

The solution to the financial squeeze lies with the General Assembly that, by choosing lower taxes over adequate financial support for education at all levels, has initiated a form of financial suicide for this state. As the 21st century economy demands more well-educated workers, North Carolina will be producing fewer of them. The legislature must meet its constitutional duty to support our university and charge only affordable tuition.  Click here to read more.