Short Title: Tuition Priorities Act. (Public)

Sponsored by: Senators CARTY, DIFIORE, FABRICIUS, FEUCHT, LUCE, MIDDLETON, PALIN, PENDERGRASS, PHELPS, WHITAKER and WICKS.

First Reading: February 21, 2001. Version Date: March 20, 2001.

Referred to: Tuition and Fees Committee.

A. Arts and Student Center

WHEREAS, Courses offered by the North Carolina State University Music Department meet graduation requirements of all major degree-granting programs at NC State in general, and are fundamental to one Academic Major and three Academic Minors in particular; and,

WHEREAS, A portion of the $136.20 University Student Center Fee paid annually by each NC State student is used to provide operational support and pay the salaries of the academic faculty of the Music Department, such that the sum contribution from the University Student Center Fee toward Music Department faculty salaries currently totals approximately $294,000; and,

WHEREAS, The $294,000 portion of Music Department faculty salaries and operational support that the University Student Center Fee is currently paying could be used to better serve all of the ARTS NC STATE programs as well as provide for much-needed repair and maintenance of the four Student Centers; and,

WHEREAS, $147,000, half of the amount of the University Student Center Fee which is currently being used to pay Music Department faculty salaries, could be used to create a vitally needed position in each of four of the ARTS NC STATE programs, as well as to address critical needs in all of the ARTS NC STATE programs; and,

WHEREAS, $147,000, half of the amount of the University Student Center Fee which is currently being used to pay Music Department faculty salaries, could be used to address important facilities needs of the four University Student Centers; and,

WHEREAS, The visual and performing arts programs of ARTS NC STATE provide opportunities for all North Carolina State University students, faculty, and staff and Raleigh community members to participate in and appreciate a variety of arts experiences; and,

WHEREAS, The programs of ARTS NC STATE are in urgent need of additional operating support; and,

WHEREAS, The total need currently expressed by the ARTS NC STATE programs is in the amount of $81,100; and,

WHEREAS, The ARTS NC STATE programs support the request that the portion of Music Department faculty salaries and operational support currently paid by $294,000 of the University Student Center Fee be replaced by tuition increase money, allowing $11,100 of this fee money to be spent on ARTS NC STATE needs such as those outlined above; and,

WHEREAS, An unmet need of $70,000 will still exist among the ARTS NC STATE programs upon receipt of those monies; and,

WHEREAS, Expansion of the Office of African American Student Affairs would allow it to research, design and implement unique programs that would promote the pursuit of academic success, retention and graduation of students belonging to ethnic minority populations at NC State, with an emphasis placed on serving African American, Native American and Hispanic students; and,

WHEREAS, The total necessary cost for expanding the Office of African American Student Affairs to become the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs is over $44,000; and,

WHEREAS, Currently, the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service (CSLEP) plans and organizes an annual international spring break trip in which students, faculty, and staff partner with Habitat for Humanity, Global Village to build houses for the poor, and in addition, students are exposed to service learning and utilize their interactions to reflect on their experiences and how they relate to their own lives; and,

WHEREAS, Increasing the number of service trips would provide opportunities for more students to participate in such programs; and,

WHEREAS, The proposed $17,000 would allow the Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service to offer a 1/3 discount for approximately 25 students to participate in a similar experience, while the remainder of the cost would continue to come from fundraising and personal contributions; and,

WHEREAS, The mission of the North Carolina State University Center for Student Leadership, Ethics, and Public Service (CSLEP) is to provide leadership development and service opportunities for students who aspire to be principled, innovative and socially conscious contributors to a caring and civil society; and,

WHEREAS, A ¾ time Associate Director position has been created in the CSLEP, funded by student fees; and,

WHEREAS, The CSLEP is in need of $13,000 to expand the position of Associate Director from ¾ time to full-time; and,

WHEREAS, SABA, a retention program fostered by the Office of African American Student Affairs at North Carolina State University attempts to decrease the attrition rate of students of color; and,

WHEREAS, SABA is currently operated by two work-study students, an unpaid graduate intern through the Counselor Education department and a small number of volunteers, but a formal budget is required to fully support the program components, including a monitored study hall, counseling sessions (academic, personal and professional issues) mentoring, group sessions, parent organization and leadership programs; and,

WHEREAS, The SABA program has an unmet need of $7,000;

B. Research Position in Enrollment Management

WHEREAS, the Office of Financial Aid no longer has professional assistance to gather statistical data; and,

WHEREAS, the opening of a research position with Enrollment Management would enable Financial Aid Counselors to fully dedicate their time to students; and,

WHEREAS, the creation of this position sill cost $75,000 in salary and benefits; and,

C. Graduate School Funding

WHEREAS, an allocation of $250,000 to the Graduate Student Support Plan will help offset the cost of the $300 tuition increase; and,

WHEREAS, In order to retain eligibility for funding, all institutions receiving federally-funded research grants will be required to have a training program in research and professional ethics costing NC State $260,000; and.

D. University Scholars

WHEREAS, The remodeled University Scholars Program will be much more flexible than the current one; and,

WHEREAS, The University Scholars Program will encourage the kind of independent thinking which develops student leadership and will thereby benefit the entire student body; and,

WHEREAS, In order to accomplish its transition in a broader, more accessible and improved program, the University Scholars Program is requesting $90,000; and

E. Libraries

WHEREAS, to maintain current quality of library subscriptions vital for faculty and student research, $272,000 is needed; and,

F. Honors

WHEREAS, the Honors program wishes to expand the number of sections and colloquia available to the student body; and,

WHEREAS, to effectively expand the program, $100,000 is needed;

G. International Studies

WHEREAS, The office of International Programs includes the Study Abroad Office and the Office of International Scholar and Student Services; and,

WHEREAS, severe budget constraints are adversely affecting the abilities of these offices to provide quality of service for students; and,

WHEREAS, $100,000 is needed to restore the Office of Study Abroad operating budget; and,

WHEREAS, an Assistant Director position is needed in the Office of International Programs, costing $42,000; and,

WHEREAS, to help more students study abroad at a lower cost, $50,000 in travel grants is needed,

WHEREAS, program development and professional training of staff is needed costing, $31,000; and,

H. Information Technology Division

WHEREAS, Faculty in all disciplines expect students to be competent and capable in the use of computing technology; and,

WHEREAS, current computing services help is insufficient to meet the needs of students and requires $385,000 to effectively address student needs; and ,

I. First Year Inquiry Courses

WHEREAS, In order to meet the goal of providing First Year Inquiry Courses for approximately one-half of the incoming first year class 2001; and,

WHEREAS, $230,000 has been allocated by former Provost Hall, and approximately $100,000 additional funding is needed to continue to expand the number of sections; and,

J. Diversity

WHEREAS, The African American Culture Center offers a very valuable service to the University by providing diversity programs; and,

WHEREAS, to achieve the goals of the center in reaching more students, $50,000 is needed to fund the position of visiting professor; and,

WHEREAS, $50,000 is needed to fund scholarships for the Africa Project;

therefore be it,

RESOLVED, the one-third remaining unallocated tuition revenue from the 2001-2002 increase be allocated to the following programs totaling $2.3 million:

1. Arts and Student Center
1. Music Department Salaries $294,000
2. Arts Operating Support $70,000
3. CSLEP Associate Director $13,000
4. New CSLEP Program $17,000
5. Multicultural Student Affairs $44,000
6. SABA $7,000
2. Research Position with Enrollment Management $75,000
3. Graduate School
1. GSSP $250,000
2. Research Ethics Training $260,000
4. University Scholars $90,000
5. Libraries $272,000
6. Honors Program $100,000
7. International Studies
1. Restore Study Abroad Operating Budget $100,000
2. Assistant Director $42,000
3. Academic Travel Grants $50,000
4. Increase Operating Budget $31,000
8. Information Technology $385,000
9. First Year Inquiry $100,000
10. Diversity
1. Visiting Professor $50,000
2. Africa Project $50,000