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| Wilson: UNC system budget
cuts running as deep as they can go |
Adam
Bennett
Editor-in Chief |
Eight
consecutive years of budget trimming have gone as far as it can
go, University of North Carolina Board of Governors (BOG) Chairman
and Appalachian State University graduate J. Bradley Wilson said
Thursday.
“I have come to the conclusion that the practical implementation
of these cuts have now gone as far as they can go without dramatically
affecting the classroom,” Wilson said.
Wilson’s visit to Appalachian was part of a planned tour of
all 16 UNC campuses to be completed next fall.
During the visits, Wilson said he meets with various chancellors
and cabinets, faculty, staff and student leaderships.
He then reports back to the BOG about the concerns voiced.
“I have learned a lot from the visits and I’m beginning
to hear common themes and concerns,” Wilson said.
“Common themes at schools have been mainly about the budget,”
he said.
Faculty members are teaching more with fewer resources, and students
are unable to access the courses they need at the right time, thereby
disrupting their graduation path, Wilson said.
The budget is currently in the hands of the N.C. General Assembly.
The General Assembly has recommended a 6 percent tuition increase
across the board. Gov. Easley’s proposal calls for no tuition
hike.
“We found that [tuition] increases that had been implemented
over the last several years are doing exactly what they’re
supposed to do,” Wilson said. “We’re glad those decisions
were made, but we also believe it’s time for a time out, to
let those increases settle in, not only from being applied through
the university, but to give the students a break.
“I understand that tuition is always on the forefront of everyone’s
mind, but if you compare us to anywhere in the country, it is still
a bargain.
“I hope the board will ask each campus to provide us with a
three-year projection of campus-based tuition increases so students
will know what to expect three years out,” Wilson said.
During his meetings with faculty members, Wilson said they express
greater concern over the cuts in resources than in the fact they
have received no raises.
“The job of recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest
faculty is becoming more of a challenge,” Wilson said.
Faculty will typically stay only a few years before moving to other
university systems because of better pay or benefits, he said.
“The BOG submitted a 6 percent pay increase recommendation
to the General Assembly to consider for our faculty,” Wilson
said.
The staff is not a part of the university budget, he said, “but
we are this time lending our voice to advocate that the staff, which
is included in the state employee population, be adequately raised
for the good work that they do.”
“Some of the staff salaries are just inappropriately low,”
he said. “We believe the cuts are manageable and will slow
the pace of the effects of the cuts on the classroom.”
Wilson said that while he is convinced there is currently no need
for a tuition increase, “it’s not whether or not there
will be a tuition increase, but how much.” |
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