EDITORIALS
Educating N.C.
Planning UNC's future means taking on tough issues


Harry Lynch, News & ObserverUNC System President Erskine Bowles (right) with UNC Chancellor James Moeser.

President Erskine Bowles has said the University of North Carolina system will study whether to provide in-state tuition to illegal immigrants. That's an important assignment. Who better to research the costs and benefits of an issue that stirs high emotions than faculty and staff of the state's respected institutions of higher learning?

Yet the context of that decision is also significant. It was one of dozens of recommendations from the UNC Tomorrow Commission, ranging from ways universities can serve public schools to options for assisting rural economies.

Why does that matter? Because the question of in-state tuition for undocumented students -- which will require a change in state law -- will not be looked at in isolation. Rather, it will be part of a concerted effort by the UNC system to look ahead and align the missions, programs and funding for campuses with needs. That's the best way for North Carolina to broach a difficult, but necessary, subject. And that's exactly what public universities ought to help the state accomplish.

The UNC Tomorrow Commission was appointed in March to pinpoint the state's economic and societal needs and figure out how to organize higher education resources to confront them. It includes members of the UNC Board of Governors, as well as citizens, business leaders and elected officials from across the state.

Last week the panel held its final meeting. Its findings covered a lot of ground. Among them:

• UNC should address the shortage of science and math teachers, especially in rural areas.

• UNC should help lower our state's drop-out rate and improve academic achievement in public schools, especially low-performing ones.

• UNC should improve the educational attainment of underrepresented groups, especially African American males and Hispanic students.

Those are tough challenges. Yet they are well within the purview of the UNC system, which is generously funded with tax dollars and has as its mission providing public leadership.

None will be watched with greater interest than examining the costs and benefits of charging cheaper in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants who live in the state.

We believe kids brought to this country illegally by their parents should pay in-state tuition if they graduate from high school and qualify for admission. The expense of out-of-state tuition effectively excludes them. We think the research will show this makes economic sense.

The Board of Governors has taken no position on the issue, but past discussions indicate it is prepared to act on the research. That will be a critical service to a state built on a tradition of honest inquiry and open access to education.
http://www.charlotte.com/opinion/story/403214.html
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COMMENTS (to date):

Dear Erskine-

How about loan forgiveness programs for teachers? Since the state doesn't pay teachers requisite pay for their service, it would be appropriate to offer this incentive to teachers. In fact, I would rather have student loans forgiven than institute a pay for performance system. If illegal immigrants are given a boon to attend college, it seems only fair to give teachers a break as well, especially since I have to spend time attending training sessions such as SIOP, etc. to learn how to teach the kids of illegals who don't speak or read the language very well, but are still held accountable for the same EOG and EOCs that other students take---and I don't get paid extra for that time after school, on weekends, and during the summer---why? Because school systems are notoriously demanding, yet cheap---because there are not enough ESL teachers---and because we don't have teacher unions like other parts of the country that would protect teachers from spending hundreds of unpaid hours per year picking up the school system's slack. Should illegals get a college education--well, since our government seems to provide compulsory education and other government assistance programs to them free of charge (on my miniscule tax payer dime)--I would prefer that those illegals at least try to stand on their own feet and stop draining the system--and let's face it, in this day and age, being college educated is the way to a more secure income---what I want to know is---how many illegals will go into teaching when they see the salary?


Posted by: naysayer76

12/13/2007 6:47 AM
2836.1 Report as Violation

Avg 5.00, 1 vote

I honestly do not understand how educating illegal aliens will benefit the state of North Carolina. After they graduate, they are still precluded from employment in this or any other state. It is a crime for an employer to hire a person who is in the country illegally. I don't want my tax dollars to support a system that encourages illegal immigration.

Posted by: kr4ro

12/13/2007 7:16 AM
2836.2 Report as Violation

Avg 5.00, 2 votes

Why is it the responsibility of the UNC system to correct the shortage of math and science teachers? The UNC system is responsible for educating... not setting policies for public high schools. The 'shortage' is being driven by pay rates at these schools... if you make the pay rates competitive, more teachers will become available.

Illegal aliens have NO place in our public high schools or universities. Giving them access to in-state tuition rates only exacerbates the problem. The supposed 'leadership' of Bowles and Easley on this matter subvert and undermine our established laws. These so-called leaders are a disgrace.


Posted by: sindarintech

12/13/2007 9:08 AM
2836.3 Report as Violation