UNC-Pembroke - Repeal of Bill 873

Plot to destroy HBCU schools!!!

I am a 2010 graduate from the American Indian Studies program at UNCP. NCSB 873 will be detrimental to the universities' ability to provide quality education, as well as to the communities that house these institutions.

I just became an alumus from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke as of May 2016. Personally, I know what this institution has to offer, and it's helped start the dreams of many graduates. I encourage all UNCP graduates, students, staff, faculty, as well as students from the other institutions which were targeted, to sign this petition. It's one thing to genuinely want to lower the costs of higher education, but it's another thing to have in place, a secret agenda to undermine the credibility and values of the services that each institution provides for it's students, staff, faculty, and surrounding communities. If this bill's true purpose is to lower tuition prices, then why not focus on ALL of the 17 UNC Campuses? This bill is established to target minority institutions. In reality, Western Carolina was thrown into the pot, to make it seem like the state government is not only looking at minority institutions. As for the students who think a $500 tuition statement will look good, please truly reflect on what this bill will "accomplish". If this goes into affect, the quality of your education, your major, several departments, organizations, athletic funding, and even the salaries of university personnel who work hard to help you achieve your success, will most likely be eradicated.

Someone needs to ask why minority based schools are being targeted!

This bill is racially driven. Making tuition lower at a four year university than at a community college? UNC-Pembroke continues to grow without $500 tuition. Its students often have higher Praxis passage rates than more prestigious UNC system schools. It provides teachers and business leaders to North and South Carolina public schools and medical students to ECU who come back to work in an under served, poor region. It is the most racially divers college in NC and one of the most diverse in the United States because it was the first public school in NC to integrate. Although founded as a school for the local tribe, more whites are now enrolled than Lumbees. However, many Lumbees would not have a four year degree without UNC-Pembroke. Do not underestimate the value of going to a school where your last name will be pronounced correctly all of the time. At ECU, my last name was butchered everyday.

Mr. James, stating your opinion is fine but please do not come on here and harass others for their opinions. If you cannot Follow by these rules I will delete your comments. Please be respectful as we are respectful of your opinion. I responded to you as the creator of this petition but please let others have their opinion without you having to rebuttal everything that is said. Thank you!

That's kind of like being upset about the price of gasoline dropping, and then wanting a reimbursement for the higher price you were paying two years ago. Not going to happen!! Besides only around 3% actually paid the full tuition price.

If they lower tuition do they want to reimburse me for what I paid.

Class 2009

The appeal of UNCP will be greater than before. Keep in mind that the person who crafted this bill is a proud alumni of Western Carolina (which is the other school involved with the proposed bill). He crafted the bill to benefit the effected schools, including his own. Again, actual tuition revenue (in real numbers) is not being slashed, only modified as to open the door for others who can meet the high academic standards which are presently in place. The state is committed to continue additional funding for construction at UNCP and here's zero plans of changing the school from a 4 year University to anything else. It's clear by now that of the tens of thousands of UNCP Alumni plus the present students enrollment (around 6,300) this petition, which is littered with names not associated with UNCP is falling way short of making any type of realistic impact. Now if we were at around 15,000 names or so, well then that may be another story.

This should not even BE an option. It will lose all of the appeal the school has worked so hard to build over the years. I am a very proud alumni that would hate to see the downfall of such an outstanding university.

Jessica, Don't forget the state controls our budget, and will continue to do so, if we except their offer or if we reject it. Keep in mind over 96% of the students attending UNCP presently receive subsidies in the way of scholarships, grants, etc with the average being around $12,000.00 per year (check with the admittance office). So, in reality, this will not strip the funding from the school, because for the most part the state is subsidizing the vast majority of the tuition for most of the students now. This bill will open the doors of opportunity for those who do not presently qualify for the existing grants and scholarships, which includes a lot of potential students from Robeson County and surrounding areas. Again, the acceptance standards aren't being lowered, and UNCP will remain a 4 year University. In reality, this bill enhances what the school was originally founded for. While I know some UNCP Alumni and students have signed this petition, the fact is many haven't and will not do so, based on the facts. Again, you can clearly see that this petition is being pushed (and hijacked) by a lot of people not associated with UNCP. Funny thing is, we didn't interfere with their petitions and protest to opt out. Don't be fooled by the misinformation being fed by those who are not associated to UNCP just to keep this petition afloat. We need to control our own destiny, and recognize opportunities when they come our way. Long live Brave Nation!!

Mr. James, there are many alumni of uncp who have signed this bill. Their are many that are concerned about the quality of Education our University will receive if this bill passes. The government promises many things but over the last few years the government has shown that they're not trustworthy. I've worked in the public schools for a few years and I can tell you that the state is not even properly taking care of our public schools. If their not taking care of what is required education then how can we trust it they will take care of our state colleges. This bill is too risky to trust the government to pull the rug out from under us. How long do you think this government funding will last before they take it away because of budget cuts? It sounds great in theory but when it crashes and burns there will be no uncp to go back to. Our school will be a joke in the UNC system. It's not about an HBCU agenda or any other type of agendas, it's about preserving our state schools for years to come. Right is right and wrong is wrong.

Affordability is always great, however.... "You get what you pay for." A price reduction this drastic damages the quality of respected institutions. Think about the students quality of LIVING on campus due to lack of programs. Wouldn't enrollment decrease once certain programs/courses of study are removed? Yes. So this just doesn't help. Period

While the tuition may be more affordable, the higher academic standards will remain, so UNC Pembroke's reputation will also remain high. It seems as though this petition may be being hijacked by the NAACP's opposition to the bill with the HBCU's followers trying to influence the bill by signing the petition. While the petition looks as though it's losing steam, it makes you wonder how many 'outsiders' have signed this bill.

....Every college should help make education affordable, not just a few.

Carefully study the proposed bill, The way it's set up, UNC Pembroke could really benefit in a huge way. I find it ironic that alumni from the HBCUs (which will not be a part of the proposal) are pushing and signing this petition to make UNC Pembroke exempt. The petition should exclude anyone who is not a Braves Alumni or student, and not be influenced by those who have decided to not take advantage of what may turn out to be a great opportunity for the schools growth. With the passage of the bill UNC Pembroke will remain an excellent progressive 4 year University, with the difference being that it may be much larger (and receive a larger slice of the states funding) in the future.

ALUMNI undergrad 2010 Masters 2015

This is my alma mater and I can't stand that the state wants to do such a crazy thing to such an amazing school!! Keep UNC-Pembroke an University!!!!!

I am a WSSU Ram standing in solidarity with the students/alumni/faculty/staff at UNCP.