From Staff Reports

CHAPEL HILL  — The University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted Feb. 11 to raised tuition by 9.9 percent at both UNC Asheville and Western Carolina University.

The average tuition boost was about 9 percent across the 16 university campuses in the system. The action occurred despite loud demonstrations by crowds of students protesting the increases.

“UNC Asheville recognizes the difficult decision faced by the UNC Board of Governors and (UNC System President Tom Ross), who are trying to balance university needs with affordability for all North Carolina students,” UNCA Provost Jane Fernandes noted in a statement. “Increasing tuition is something no one wants, but we must protect the high-quality educational experience we offer students.”

UNCA actually sought a higher tuition increase than was approved by the board. The school’s trustees recommended a $500 tuition increase for both full-time in-state and out-of-state students. However, the UNC board ended up increasing tuition by $310 for in-state undergraduate students. It did, though, approve the trustees’ suggested $500 tuition jump for out-of-state and graduate students.

WCU in-state undergraduate students will face a tuition increase of $399.