The Decree Interviewed Dr

T HE DECREE since 1960 “of, by, and for the Wesleyan community.” November 21, 2014 NORTH CAROLINA WESLEYAN COLLEGE, ROCKY MOUNT, NORTH CAROLINA 27804 Tuition To Rise 2.8 Percent, 900 Students Projected for Fall 2015 By Decree Staff NC Wesleyan will hike tuition and other Among other items in the budget, Edwards rollment. “We change more lives. The higher costs by 2.8 percent for most students in highlighted a 3-percent pay raise for all staff enrollment will allow us to provide more 2015-16, as it plans for a second-consecutive and faculty, more funding for student activities activities and programs,” the president said, jump in enrollment. and intramurals, and additional money for adding “We can better leverage our assets, and Next year tuition will rise from $27,250 marketing and recruitment initiatives. our economic model will work better.” to $28,000, according to Jason Edwards, the He pointed out that the college must now The college is forecasting 400 new college’s Vice President of Finance. Under absorb a North Carolina sales tax on cafeteria students in 2015, with 340 freshmen. a previous agreement, tuition will remain meal plans, under a mandate approved by the The growing enrollment will require at $26,482 for students who enrolled in fall legislature in July. Edwards noted that, unlike changes in residence life. While renewing 2013 or spring 2014. other colleges, Wesleyan elected not to pass its arrangement at the Rocky Mount Inn Some freshmen were unhappy about on the cost to students this fall and spring. next year, the college has decided to build the tuition increase. The budget includes a number of enhancements a new residence hall in a vacant area next “It’s already hard for students and their to campus facilities and services. The college is: to Centura Hall. Already approved by the families to pay tuition,” said Jonathan • Leasing the Rocky Mount Inn––located three college’s Board of Trustees, plans call for a Alston. “Why raise prices? I think the school miles south of campus on North Wesleyan facility with 40 single rooms. The college will lose students due to the crazy increase.” Boulevard––as a residence for about 70 students intends to finish construction of the residence President Clark with General Hugh Shelton after the former NCWC David Chang, a freshman from and providing transportation services to campus. hall by August 2015 at an estimated cost of trustee introduced Dr. Clark at October inauguration ceremonies. Australia, was less bothered by the tuition Edwards reported that the total expense to $1.5 to $2 million, President Clark said. Photo copyrighted by Garry E. Hodges. increase, but said he felt that the college rent the Inn has been offset by student room Edwards said that money for the new resi- should enhance the residence halls and, in payments, but that the college has, so far, borne dence hall is not included in the current budget. particular, the offerings in the cafeteria. He the cost of the shuttle service, which is expected “It would be part of our capital budget and will be called the current meal plan “expensive” to total $55,000 for the academic year. “But covered by bank financing,” he explained. Faculty Members Crack for “low quality” food. “If we have to pay there is still availability in the Rocky Mount Inn Even with the new residence hall, President an additional $150, I’ll have very high and if we fill the vacant rooms,” he said, “we’ll Clark noted, the college will still need to explore Down on Cell Phone Use expectations for next year,” he said. break even on the shuttle service as well.” additional housing options. One may involve Michael Taylor James Parrish echoed Chang on the quality • Thinning out trees in wooded areas of contracting with Wesleyan Villas, the townhouse Decree Staff Writer Cauley shares this policy. She stated that her of the food. “I have a problem with the increase campus. Edwards stressed that the college complex located just north of campus. Last semester, Dr. Jonathan Sarris intro- students “may not use cell phones in class.” in the meal plan. It’s an outrage,” said Parrish, intends to use the income generated through Due to the higher projected enrollment, and duced a guest speaker, and then sat in a desk The dominant reason for the no-cell phone who suggested that the college add a fast-food sale of the harvested wood to pay for cutting growth in the ASPIRE adult-degree program, alongside students in his African-American policy is to avoid distractions during class. outlet on campus to give students more choices. down and trimming trees. “It’s a break-even the college will hire new faculty as well. For history class. The speaker, Howard N. Lee, “When students are in class, they need to Aneisha Felton said the meal plan “is pretty situation,” he said, adding that the objective is to 2014, Wesleyan established a new tenure-track a Wesleyan Trustee, was the first African- be completely present in the moment and good,” but that the menu lacks variety. She said improve “lighting, security and beautification.” position in psychology and hired a full-time American elected mayor of a predominantly engaging with other people in class,” Cauley she’s been most disappointed in the residence • Installing cameras in every residence hall visiting instructor in criminal justice. Provost white city in the South since Reconstruction said. Dr. Ames echoed that cell phones “are halls. While calling her room too small, the and partnering with Rocky Mount police Michael Brown has said that next year, along and a former North Carolina state senator. distracting, both to the student and to everyone Edgecombe Hall resident reported that it’s often to strengthen security. The police now with replacement hires, the college hopes to Midway through Lee’s lecture, his voice was else in the room.” Ames also pointed out that difficult to regulate temperature levels. “So no make regular, nightly rounds on campus. bring in new tenure-track faculty for the criminal drowned out by the familiar T-Mobile ring using a cell phone during class is impolite. one ever wants to stay in their rooms,” she said. • Purchasing 10 new tables and 40 chairs justice, exercise science, marketing, political tone. It rang several times before the student “It’s disrespectful to be engaged in anything Edwards reported that the yearly cost for a in the cafeteria. science, and religious studies departments. Dr. realized it was her cell phone. After the phone phone related during class,” she commented. double-room in a residence hall will increase • Laying sod and mulch in parking lot islands Brown added that the college will hire full-time was shut off, the other students quit staring Many professors will allow school-re- from $4,281 to $4,400, while a standard meal as part of campus beautification efforts. visiting instructors in biology, English and math, at the source of the sound, and the speaker lated work on cell phones if it is approved plan will rise from $4,651 to $4,800. The student • Converting to LED lighting in parking as well as a new full-time librarian. regrouped his thoughts and continued. by them first. Cauley, who teaches acting activity fee will remain at $150, he said, adding lots, gymnasiums and tennis courts. The college won’t know until next summer Because of incidents like this, a no-cell- and directs plays, has many students put that it’s unclear whether the college will raise • Replacing the original boiler in the the total number of adjunct—or part-time— phone policy permeates the classrooms their script lines in their phones. She stated the cost of student insurance, now set at $1,313 Everett/Taylor building. faculty it will need to employ, said the provost, of Wesleyan. A majority of the instructors she is fine with using cell phones for per year. “Student insurance is a pass-through • Adding a baseball clubhouse and a who noted that, this semester, there are 41 implement this policy in their classes in class-related purposes “as long as students expense driven by quotes received from a building for the football team to store adjuncts teaching 73 classes and labs. order to keep the students focused on the use it as an electronic device and not as third-party provider,” Edwards explained, “and equipment and hold meetings. He said that the current classroom space subject matter. Dr. Marjon Ames embraces a phone.” Cauley stressed, “I will let the we don’t receive quotes until spring.” After its enrollment rose to 793 day should be adequate to accommodate 900 stu- a no-cell phone policy in her classes. “I student know when it’s appropriate to do Last fall the college decided to increase students in 2014, the college has set a goal of dents next year. “We’ve analyzed our classroom don’t want to see them out during class,” that.” In order to verify that a student is tuition, room and board by 2.9 percent, a rate 900 students for next fall and 1,000 students scheduling and believe that we can handle an the history professor said. “They should be using her phone for approved reasons she that was about .3 percent less than that of other for the following year. President Dewey Clark additional 100 new students next year with our off and put away during the duration of the said, “I come around and look.” independent colleges and universities around is excited about a second straight jump in en- current classroom configuration,” he said.

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