UNC System board will vote on these hotly debated issues this week
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Board likely to give authorization to system-wide academic freedom definition.
- The system is set to finalize 3% in-state undergraduate tuition hike for NC universities.
- Tuition hikes expected to raise millions for UNC‑CH, NC State, NC Central.
The UNC Board of Governors will likely give final authorization this week to two policies that have made headlines in recent months: systemwide tuition hikes and a new definition of academic freedom.
The issues are top of mind for many North Carolinians: free speech and affordability.
The board will meet Wednesday Feb. 25 and Thursday Feb. 26 to discuss a range of topics, from civil discourse initiatives to staff turnover rates to legislative asks. But these two issues stand out.
Academic freedom policy
The board plans to add a comprehensive definition of academic freedom to system policy. It defines what academic freedom is, but also, crucially, what it is not. The board reviewed the definition at its last meeting.
The terminology in the version of the policy that will be presented for a vote this week is slightly different from last month’s in some places.
For example, one item in the section on student protections was reorganized to emphasize students’ responsibilities over their rights to disagree with their professors. It removes language protecting the right “to disagree with opinions they hear from their faculty.”
In addition, the new definition no longer refers to the use of university resources for “political or ideological advocacy” as outside the parameters of academic freedom, but simply “political activity.”
The board is likely give final authorization to the definition, and it will officially be adopted system-wide.
Tuition hikes
The system approved a 3% increase on in-state undergraduate tuition, and Triangle universities are taking full advantage. Here’s a look at how costs will change at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC Central University, and NC State University.
- UNC-Chapel Hill is raising tuition for resident undergrads by 3%. NC high school seniors will pay $264 more, including fees. For nonresident undergrads, tuition will increase by 10%. Chancellor Lee Roberts has said the school would need to do that three times over to keep up with the price of peer institutions. From this year’s changes, UNC will see $16.8 million in increased revenue.
- NC Central is raising tuition for undergrads by 3%. NC high school seniors will pay $197 more, including fees. Nonresident undergrads will also see an increase of 3%. For grad students, both in-state and out, that 3% number is the same. The school will bring in $1.2 million as a result.
- NC State is raising tuition for undergrads by 3%. NC high school seniors can expect to pay $215 more, including fees. Tuition for nonresident undergrads will also increase by 3%. For grad students, both in-state and out, that 3% number is the same. NC State expects to see $7.7 million as a result.
The board is expected to give its final authorization to the tuition and fee increases, and they will take effect next school year.
This story was originally published February 23, 2026 at 8:00 AM with the headline "UNC System board will vote on these hotly debated issues this week."
