Dear UNC President Tom Ross, UNC Board of Governors, and NC General Assembly

We the undersigned students of the UNC system, demand of you that the North Carolina Constitution Article IX Sec. 9. stating that: "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." be upheld to full extent. 

In consideration of the above stated article we hold the following truth to be self evident where the burden of paying for a college education already imposes excessive long term debt upon the middle and working class students who attend these universities as is currently. Many of these students will never overcome the insurmountable debt incurred through obtaining higher education at one of our states distinguished public institutions. The average UNC student is expected to graduate with over $21,000 in student loan debt, and that number is increasing annually. Further financial burden should not be placed upon students and families already facing a weakened economy.

Furthermore, exceeding the existing 6.5% cap on tuition increases through implementation of the "catch up" provision is not justifiable, and use of said provision is in violation of policy 1000.1.1 which states that "student input is required as well as transparency, collaboration with students, timeliness, and accountability" in setting tuition and fees.

Tuition and fee increases decrease accessibility to education, are in excess of inflation, and are not reasonably practicable to the majority of the people of the state who wish to pursue higher education.

We demand that no further increases in tuition and fees be made.

Signed, 

Sponsor

Links