Students and parents may see a $300 tuition increase for the 2004-05 school year.

A proposal for a $900 increase over the course of three years is set for presentation before N.C. Central University’s board of trustees.

On Nov. 5 in the Alfonso Elder Student Union, administrators met with a handful of students to discuss the possibility of increases in student fees and tuition.

We are aware that a significant majority of our students depend on financial aid,” said Charles D. O’Duor, vice chancellor for financial affairs.

“We are mindful of the cost students have to bear.”

A committee of faculty, graduate and undergraduate students will be formed to discuss the proposed tuition increase.

With the increase in tuition, more students may be forced to seek financial aid because more will fall into the need-based category.

In 2000, about 92 percent of NCCU’s students received some financial aid.

The money received from an increase in tuition will be used to attract and retain qualified professors, according to Lucy Reuben, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs.

“We have to make sure our graduates can compete,” said Reuben.

NCCU faculty have not had a raise in three years.

“If you have a first class faculty you will have first class students.”

Reuben said that tuition won’t be the only way of acquiring more money — writing for grants is another means.

Tuition increases are nothing new to NCCU.

For the 2000-01 school year, UNC system Board of Governors approved a 4 percent increase while the state legislature added an additional 5 percent.

As a result, the tuition increase for NCCU in-state undergraduates grew by 9 percent to $1,272 per semester.

Out-of-state tuition increased by 14 percent to $9,194 per year.

In March 2002, the board approved an 8 percent increase in tuition for in-state students.

Out-of-state students incurred a 12 percent increase.

NCCU in-state tuition jumped 24 percent to $3,148 per year, and out-of-state tuition rose from $9,194 to $10,497 per year, an increase of 14 percent.

“For a public university, it is still a bargain,” said Jocelyn Foy, vice chancellor of enrollment and director of undergraduate admissions.

Other concerns addressed at the meeting were student fees, including parking costs and food services.

Most students at the meeting agreed that they would pay more for parking now in order to raise the money for a parking deck.

“There needs to be more student input in discussions like this one,” said Kian Brown, SGA president.

“We have administrators who have the power to make changes, and they are asking for our input.”