PLANNING FOR GROWTH

Board approves tuition increase

The East Carolina University Board of Trustees approved a two percent tuition and fees increase for new students at their board meeting Nov. 11.

The increase was recommended by the Campus Based Tuition and Fee Committee and will raise the tuition rate to $4,452 per semester for incoming, in-state freshmen and transfer students – up $87 from the previous year. Non-resident students will see a $406 increase. The new tuition rates are fixed for incoming undergraduate students for eight semesters.

Funds from the tuition and fee increase will be used for faculty and staff retention, student services, technology improvements and graduate assistantship support. Funds also will support Honors College merit scholarships. During Friday’s meeting, Chancellor Cecil Staton discussed ECU’s intention to increase Honors College enrollment from 100 to 200 new students per year beginning in fall 2017.

SGA Vice-President, Janae Brown, presents a student-produced video, EC United, during the board’s lunch discussion on Thursday, Nov. 10.

The proposal also included a $2,000 tuition increase for the Brody School of Medicine and a $1,000 increase for the School of Dental Medicine.

The tuition and fees Executive Summary is available online for a detailed look at the plan. The proposal will move to the UNC Board of Governors for discussion and approval during the first part of 2017.

Brody School of Medicine expansion

The trustees unanimously adopted a resolution requesting UNC system President Margaret Spellings and the Board of Governors support the expansion of programs and facilities at the Brody School of Medicine. Those include the conversion of $4 million in non-recurring funds allocated to Brody this year to a permanent funding source; expansion of the Brody class size from 80 to 120 full-time students over the next eight years; the expansion of medical residency slots available in eastern North Carolina; and planning money for a new $150 million medical education facility at East Carolina.

Leaders believe Brody has earned additional investment and support from the state by honoring its mission to prepare and graduate primary care physicians to serve North Carolina.

“This is a big deal,” remarked Chairman Steve Jones. “We need to be driving this for the state of North Carolina.”

Dowdy-Ficklen Southside renovations

Trustees approved a total of $55 million in renovations for Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The plans call for expanding the upper deck on the south side of the stadium with four tiers of suites, lounge and loge areas with a total of about 1,000 seats, new press box and food service and seating amenities. Other improvements will include a new “Pirate Promenade” area leading to the stadium, to serve as an entryway for football players, band members and cheerleaders entering the stadium complex as well as an upgraded parking and tailgating lot, a pre-game open seating area in the Murphy Center end zone, indoor baseball practice facility and improvements to the Ward Sports Medicine building and Scales Field House.

“The renovation will allow ECU and the Pirate Nation to have one of the best experiences in intercollegiate athletics in our country,” said Staton.

Construction is slated to begin after the 2017 football season for completion before the 2018 season. A total of $12.2 million has been raised so far, and premium seating areas have been sold.

In other business, the board:

• Passed a resolution supporting the planning phase and soft launch of a $500 million comprehensive fundraising campaign for the university. The public kick-off is projected for spring 2020.
• Approved Rodgers Builders of Raleigh as the construction manager at risk for the new Life Sciences and Biotechnology building.
• Heard early plans to renovate and expand the chancellor’s residence on 5th Street during the finance and facilities committee meeting on Thursday. The home, in the College View historic district, hosts more than 50 events each year. Plans are to maintain the exterior façade while creating distinct private and public areas in the home, which is considered one of the finest examples of Italianate architecture in the state.
• Passed a resolution thanking Greenville and ECU first responders, Greenville Utilities and ECU facilities staff for their dedication and response during and after Hurricane Matthew.
• Approved the conferral of degrees for the Dec. 16 commencement ceremony.
• Encouraged the ECU community to attend the UNC Board of Governors’ Strategic Plan public forum on Thursday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. in Wright Auditorium.

Dr. Rick Niswander, Vice Chancellor of Administration and Finance explains the suggested tuition and fees increase to board members.