Derek Pantiel Jarvis Hall

The UNC Board of Governors has voted for a bill that will allow all 16 of the UNC schools to increase their in-state tuition by a maximum of 6.5 percent per year.

UNC Pres-ident Ers-kine Bowles proposed the plan to limit the size of tuition hikes, by giving universities a ceiling to their increases.

The 6.5 percent cap will be set for the next four years.

“The Council of Student Government Association presidents are accepting this,” said UNC Association of Student Governments President, Derek Pantiel, a NCCU senior.

“They understand the increase is needed,” said Pantiel.

The 6.5 percent cap still exceeds the national higher education inflation index, which is set at 5 percent.

As proposed, 25 percent of the revenue will go to need-based financial aid, 50 percent to university funding and 25 percent to teacher’s salaries, until they reach the 80th percentile, which is based on a national level.

“We’re not meeting the need of financial aid, 25 percent is not enough,” said Pantiel.

Percentages must be put aside so that all universities have allocated funds for these different units, especially need-based financial aid.

Last year, Elizabeth City State University and UNC-Pembroke did not put aside funds for need-based financial aid, and this is what the UNC BOG is trying to avoid.

In a conference call between the students representing the 16 universities, a majority of the schools agree that more money is needed for financial aid.

As of now, the UNC BOG will keep the disbursement of money the way it is.

Members of the tuition policy task force agreed to review the business plan for the policy if it does not meet the needs of the university system.

The debt-service fee, which deals with construction and new buildings, will be excluded from the policy.

“I don’t believe in tuition increases, but if it’s going to be used to enhance the university, then I’m fine with it,” said Jeff Easterling, UNC Association of Student Governments president speaker pro tempore.

After review of the policy, members of the ASG want to know what the exceptions to the policy will be.

“If universities need more money, they can ask for it,” said Pantiel.

“Bowles wants to know where the money is going, and what it’s being used for.”

The matter at hand is a case of needs versus wants.

“I believe almost every university is going to go after it,” said Pantiel.

“The thing about it is that the more you try to increase this year, the less you can increase next year.”

Pantiel also wants to make sure the chancellors focus on private funding.

“We need to make sure that the chancellors are still seeking private funding for their universities,” said Pantiel.

“I want to know exactly how much the chancellors are bringing in, and if the funds are being used adequately.”

It is understood that the majority of the universities need the money to make sure they are able to function and compete with other universities across the nation.