Chancellor on Tuition Increase

In the short time I have been here, many faculty and staff have raised the issue of the limited resources we have available to deliver quality education and student support. Solving the issue will not be easy. We are not yet where we need to be with our endowment, and state support is shrinking. Additionally, we have a long-standing commitment to low tuition. Those are our primary funding sources and therein lies the challenge.

This year, the state legislature has taken the extraordinary step of allowing University of North Carolina system institutions to raise tuition by as much as $750 to help offset budget cuts of about $99 million. NC State’s share of that reduction is about $20 million.

I know that our core academic areas have been deeply affected by budget reductions, especially last year’s. I understand that NC State has fewer faculty and staff than we had just two years ago. We have lost seats and sections as well as advising and support positions. I know you are working harder and doing more with less resources. Many of you have not had a raise in at least two years and have taken unpaid furlough days, and I thank you for your continued dedication.

In an effort to halt this erosion, NC State will implement the tuition increase approved by the legislature. The total tuition increase for 2010-11 will be $900 for in-state undergraduates and $950 for all other students, which includes the already approved increases of $150 and $200 respectively.

Shortly, I hope to begin a process of reinvesting in the university by providing additional faculty support, and by taking a look at class sizes, teaching loads and support for research.

This is not an easy situation for anyone involved. I appreciate your patience and understanding as we work our way through difficult budgetary times.

NC State is known as an institution that combines quality and accessibility. As we all know, accessibility without quality is no bargain. We will continue to work with General Administration and the legislature to hold budget cuts to a minimum and position ourselves and our state for recovery.

—Chancellor Randy Woodson