Article Nine, Section Nine
Posted on Jan. 13, 2002Among the most significant and, at the time, troubling things I learned in my freshman year was that much of which I had assumed to be black or white really was gray. I grew up in a home where, when we finally had a television, it was black and white, and my parents always reassured my brothers and me that the characters wearing the white hats were good and the ones in black hats were bad. Carolina taught me that people, issues and events usually are much more complicated than that.
An issue vital to Carolina’s future that too often is presented as simple is that of when and by how much to raise undergraduate tuition. Article IX, Section 9 of the N .C. Constitution reads as follows: “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. ” (That’s the wording, with emphasis added, from the N.C. Constitution as amended in 1971; similar language first appeared in the state constitution enacted in 1868.)
Carolina’s undergraduate tuition for North Carolina residents, presently $2,328, always has been among the lowest in the country. It remains so today despite an increase of $1,506, or 183 percent, over the past decade.
Among the questions that continue to be debated are:
- Is the constitutional mandate being violated?
- Does higher tuition deny access to Carolina or discourage some from applying?
- What is the proper balance in sources of funding to maintain and enhance Carolina’s excellence?
Clearly, over many generations North Carolinians as reflected through the General Assembly have generously funded higher education. Many believe that this public support not only is because of the pride North Carolinians have for our campus but also their sense that a world-class education remains within reach for all North Carolinians.
Yet, we also know that, as are other states, North Carolina is devoting a declining percentage of the state budget to higher education — down to 12.9 percent in 2000 from 17.4 percent in 1986. Today, 29 percent of our campus budget comes from state appropriations; 15 years ago, that percentage was 43 percent.
The increases in campus-initiated tuition in recent years have come with a commitment to set aside a substantial portion of the revenues generated for financial aid, and Carolina continues to meet the financial aid needs of all North Carolina undergraduate students. Further, several studies show that those institutions that do the best job in preserving access to needy students are those that couple high tuition with generous packages for financial aid.
Today’s tuition at Carolina is 2.8 percent of the North Carolina median family income, estimated to be $60,656.
Too often, there is an unwillingness to acknowledge that students are ill-served if the quality of their educational experience is diminished because of under funding. Some are concerned by Carolina’s reported decline in U.S. News & World Report‘s annual rankings from ninth to 28th in the past 15 years. Many are particularly alarmed that U.S. News ranks Carolina 72nd in faculty resources. And with anticipated retirements, Carolina will need to replace one-third to half of our faculty in the coming decade.
Understandably, alumni want to see the value of Carolina diplomas continue to appreciate in value, and we have demonstrated a willingness to contribute generously to support Carolina. However, alumni expect our gifts to provide the margin of excellence and do not envision our financial contributions merely replacing state appropriations.
Had the University not had available the revenues from a $300-per-student campus-based tuition increase, which generated a pool of roughly $7 million, each UNC faculty member would have received a salary increase this year totaling only $625 — as did all other state employees.
Some argue that it is unfair for North Carolina tax payers to support Carolina students whose parents easily could contribute much more toward their education; others argue that all North Carolinians benefit from a better-educated work force. The bottom line is that none of us is in the habit of asking to pay full price on an item that is on sale. For North Carolinians, a UNC education has been a bargain for generations, and it is likely that Carolina’s in-state tuition will remain a bargain. How do we address our desire to be faithful to the constitutional mandate for low tuition, the need to retain and recruit top faculty who will ensure Carolina’s excellence, a declining portion of the state budget appropriated to higher education, an expectation that private gifts won’t simply replace what should be legislative support, and a commitment to ensure that Carolina is accessible to all who earn admission, regardless of their financial circumstances?
No, tuition is not a black-and-white issue, and the consequences of tuition increases are important for us all.
Yours at Carolina,
Douglas S. Dibbert ’70
