In the aftermath of record state budget cuts, North Carolina's public universities are bracing for an angst-ridden debate over tuition increases this year - with some large hikes under consideration. A tuition advisory group at UNC-Chapel Hill will gather in a few weeks to vote on a recommendation to raise tuition and fees by as much as $2,800 for in-state undergraduates - an increase of nearly 40 percent if enacted in one year. Recognizing that such an increase might not be palatable, the panel will consider whether it should be spread out over two, three or maybe four years, Provost Bruce Carney said. "That's such an enormous bite on the students," Carney said. "I personally can't see doing it all in one year, or maybe even two." At N.C. Central University, students met for several hours Wednesday to discuss the issue, but campus leaders have not settled on a tuition number yet. N.C. State University's advisory group has endorsed a plan to raise tuition by $330 for in-state undergraduates, a 6.4 percent increase, and $660 for graduate and out-of-state students.
