This week, Western Carolina University Board of Trustees approved increased fees and rates for the 2019-20 academic year. Overall, mandatory fees paid by students will increase by $48 dollars per year or 1.7 percent.
This includes an $8 increase in the health services feel, $14 increase in the student activity fee and a $26 per year increase in the university’s athletics fee as well as other increases.
At a committee meeting before the Trustee’s meeting, Randy Eaton, athletics director, reminded the board that the N.C. General Assembly increased the salary of state employees and auxiliary units of the university such as athletics but did not give additional funds for the auxiliary unit raises. The proposed fee change would cover the cost of salary increases that have occurred since the last athletics fee increase in 2016, according to a Western Carolina University press release.
Residence hall room rates at WCU will go up by an average of 4.2 percent beginning with the 2019 fall semester. This increase will help the school save up to renovate or replace older residence halls in the near future says Sam Miller, vice chancellor for student affairs in a press release. Meal plan charges will also rise by almost exactly the same average percentage.
Overall WCU says that this will only equal a 3.45 percent increase in total annual costs for most students. The school calculates that total as $13,178 up from $12,738 last year for average residence and meal plan options. These increases will now go to the UNC Board of Governors for approval.
