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Tuition increases to pay faculty, staff
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by Leslie
Rasimas
Staff Writer
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| Peter Larkins| The
Appalachian |
| Faculty Senate members discuss
a resolution to reduce workloads and increase tuition
at their last meeting. It was met with mixed responses. |
In order for Appalachian State University to provide a top
quality education along with all University of North Carolina
system schools, the university needs more money.
Monies needed to keep the university equal with its competitors
will likely come from the proposed tuition increase.
Interim Provost Kenneth E. Peacock said he feels it is the
responsibility of the state of North Carolina to provide
the funds, but the state has asked UNC system schools to
take action for themselves.
“I find it very distasteful that we have to ask our
students to pay for the expenses to operate the university,”
Peacock said. “I do not want anyone who comes here
to get anything other than a top quality academic program,”
The UNC Board of Governors asked all 16 schools within the
UNC system to propose a campus-based tuition increase.
Peacock said the university’s top competitors are North
Carolina State University, East Carolina University, University
of North Carolina at Charlotte, University of North Carolina
at Greensboro and University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Appalachian
State University students pay an average of $477 less in
tuition and fees than the five competitors.
NCSU, being a Research I institution, may not be a fair competitor,
Peacock said.
Appalachian students pay an average of $326 less than ECU,
UNCC, UNCG and UNCW.
“It’s distasteful for me to say we’re going
to have to ask the students for money, but given what the
other schools have done, I support [raising tuition],”
Peacock said. “It’s not because I like it, but
it is necessary in order to give our students the kind of
experiences they need in order to prepare them for the long
run.”
The money from the proposed tuition increase would be used
for faculty and staff salary increases, financial aid and
academic and student support.
“The quality of students coming in is going up, and
we need to respond with honors courses, international opportunities
and interdisciplinary programs. These dollars are going to
be used to strengthen our university,” Peacock said.
In the past, it has been the responsibility of the state
to provide funds to pay for faculty and staff salaries.
Dr. George H. Olson, professor of Leadership and Education
Studies, said:
“I think there should be tuition increases to support
faculty and staff. The state is abdicating their responsibilities,
so the university must take over.”
A concern of faculty members is by how much this proposed
tuition increase could affect faculty and staff salaries.
Assistant professor and librarian Beth E. Cramer said:
“I am definitely against raising tuition for faculty
salary increases, but I think people should know about staff
situations. The problem is that many of the people who would
get raises from the tuition increase have children in college.
Giving them a raise, and then charging them $600 more a year
to send their kids to school is not the answer.”
Cramer is a member of the Faculty Senate and spoke against
a motion last week to give faculty a greater increase in
salary than staff members.
“For me to sit on a body that is trying to increase
tuition in order to increase our salaries is bizarre. It
is not our role at this university.
"I think [the faculty] makes enough money that we don’t
need to put this on the backs of the students,” she
said.
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