BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Trustees approve tuition and fees for 2019-2020
The East Carolina University Board of Trustees approved the university’s tuition and fees for the 2019-2020 academic year during its regular meeting on Friday, Nov. 2.
Tuition remains unchanged for in-state and out-of-state undergraduate students, but tuition for the ECU School of Dental Medicine will increase by $1,000 to fund an additional faculty position. Student fees will also increase by $51, or 1.99 percent. The proposal will move to the UNC Board of Governors for approval.
Trustees Kieran Shanahan and Vern Davenport applaud the accomplishments of faculty members and students. (Photo by Cliff Hollis)
The largest component of the fee increase was a $50 bump in student fees for athletics, from $723 to $773. ECU’s athletics fee is in line with those of other institutions in the UNC System, with the exception of UNC and N.C. State, whose fees are offset by larger payouts from their athletic conference.
The $50 increase was suggested by the ECU Student Government Association after a $75 increase was originally proposed. SGA president Jordan Koonts said he was proud of the level of student participation in the process.
The overall increase in fees also includes $8 for student center operations and education and technology. The increase was offset by the removal of a $15 fee for debt service for the Student Recreation Center.
Other fee changes included a reduction of the application fee for undergraduate and graduate students from $75 to $60, a new readmission fee of $35 and a $233 increase in the fee for electronic textbooks for the School of Dental Medicine.
Degrees were conferred for 2,406 students who will graduate in December, including 1,716 undergraduates and 690 graduate students. Commencement is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 14 in Minges Coliseum.
During the Athletics and Advancement Committee meeting on Thursday, basketball coach Joe Dooley provided an update on his team, saying that after two close scrimmages, he feels his players’ energy and competitiveness have been “very good” and that he was excited for the season to begin Nov. 6.
Chris Dyba, vice chancellor for university advancement, provided a campaign and financial year fundraising update. He reported that so far the university has raised $5.8 million in the fiscal year that began July 1. East Campus has raised $3.2 million, West Campus has raised $1.1 million and athletics has raised $1.3 million. ECU’s $500 million comprehensive campaign now totals $194 million.
The committee also approved several requested changes to the Board of Visitors bylaws, including reducing the number of members from 60 to 40 and lowering the term limits from four years to two years.
Lee Workman, acting chief operating officer for athletics, highlighted the men’s and women’s cross country teams and the women’s soccer team for their promising seasons.
Workman was recognized by Chancellor Cecil Staton during his remarks to the full board, thanking him for 34 years of service to ECU athletics. Workman has announced that he will retire as of Dec. 31.
Staton also commended the efforts of the university community during the recovery efforts after Hurricane Florence and highlighted several notable student, faculty and staff recognitions and accomplishments.
The next meeting of the ECU Board of Trustees is scheduled for Feb. 14-15, 2019.
Members of the Board of Trustees toured the new student center following Thursday’s committee meetings. (Photo by Rhett Butler)