GREENSBORO — The basic cost to attend UNCG probably will go up by $261 — about 4 percent — next year.
UNCG trustees will vote on a two-year package of tuition and fee hikes this morning. The proposal then goes to the UNC Board of Governors, which will set costs for the next two academic years at its February meeting.
UNCG officials said at a board of trustees committee meeting Thursday that the increases will keep up with inflation and provide raises for some university employees. If approved, UNCG’s basic in-state cost — that is, tuition and fees combined — will top $7,000 in 2016.
Here’s a closer look at some of the proposed increases:
• Tuition: UNCG wants to raise annual undergraduate tuition by $197 next year and by $206 the year after. In both years, UNCG hit the cap of 5 percent set by the Board of Governors. If approved, annual in-state undergraduate tuition will reach $4,335 in 2016.
People are also reading…
The university wants to use most of the $3.3 million generated from the tuition increase to raise salaries for professors and administrators, who have received only a single 1.2 percent raise since 2009. Raises will average about 2 percent.
Other money will go toward efforts to retain students at risk of dropping out and for graduate student stipends.
• Fees: UNCG wants to raise required student fees by $64 next year — about 2.5 percent — and $90 the year after.
Next year’s fees will go largely to a new green fund to support campus environmental programs, improve the campus wireless network and offer more on-campus activities for students.
In 2016-17, the entire $90 increase will cover expenses related to the opening of a new student recreation center.
UNCG officials initially proposed raising the student activities fee by $145. But UNCG’s increase would be capped at $90 because the Board of Governors has said schools can’t raise student fees by more than 5 percent a year.
“I’m very sensitive to the fee associated with the recreation center,” Chancellor Linda Brady said She said she wouldn’t go to UNC system President Tom Ross and the Board of Governors to request an exception.
If approved, UNCG’s fees will reach $2,676 in 2016.
• New art fee: UNCG wants to charge art majors extra — $400 a year for studio art majors and $100 a year for art history majors.
The university said the extra money will let UNCG cover the cost of licenses for industry-standard computer software and hire part-time workers to keep studio spaces open at night and on weekends.
UNCG is one of seven UNC schools that offers a master’s of fine arts degree in studio arts. Of those, only Western Carolina University charges art majors an extra fee.
Contact John Newsom at (336) 373-7312 and follow @JohnNewsomNR on Twitter.
