Premium Tuition Proposal Procedure

According to UNC System policy (III.B. “Graduate and Professional Tuition” Policy Manual 1000.1.1), premium tuition may be considered for graduate and graduate professional programs. The following procedure is to be followed to prepare and submit a premium tuition proposal to the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost for review.

The Office of Instructional Programs will provide oversight for proposal review.

Procedure for Requesting Premium Tuition for Graduate and Professional Programs

The process ensures that all proposals are evaluated systematically, aligning with the university’s strategic objectives and compliance requirements.

Process Overview

1. Preparation of Proposal Summary
   • The Department Head or their designee collaborates with the Assistant Dean for Finance to draft a proposal summary utilizing a predefined template. This summary must be ratified by the Dean of the departmental program or the corresponding Deans for multi-departmental programs. This executive summary forms the foundation of the proposal process. The template is available here.
2. Initial Review by the Office of Instructional Programs
   • The Office of Instructional Programs, in cooperation with the University Budget Office, reviews the proposal summary. The review focuses on the proposal’s feasibility, strategic alignment and financial implications.
   • Once the above criteria is met, the Office of Instructional Programs will forward their recommendations to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, who decides whether the proposal summary should advance to the full proposal stage.
3. Development of Full Proposal
   • If the proposal summary is approved, the Department Head or Program Director will develop a comprehensive full proposal following a detailed guideline, which is available here. This guideline provides the structure and content requirements for the full proposal.
4. Evaluation of Full Proposals
   • The Office of Instructional Programs, in cooperation with the University Budget Office will review the full proposals, where feedback and suggestions for improvement are provided as necessary. This step ensures that all proposals meet the university’s standards and objectives before further consideration.
5. Approval Process by the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
   • Upon satisfactory evaluation, the proposal is presented to the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost. The Provost’s decision is pivotal; they may approve the proposal, request modifications, or reject it.
6. Review by the Tuition Review Advisory Committee (TRAC)
   • Proposals approved by the Provost are then submitted to TRAC. TRAC evaluates the proposal and decides whether to approve or reject the tuition change.
7. Chancellor’s Decision
   • Proposals that receive TRAC’s approval are forwarded to the Chancellor. The Chancellor has the authority to approve or deny the proposal based on its alignment with broader university goals and its impact on the university community.
8. Board of Trustees Review
   • Upon approval by the Chancellor, the proposal advances to the Board of Trustees. The Board will conduct its review and decide whether to approve or reject the proposal.
9. Final Approval by the Board of Governors
   • Proposals approved by the Board of Trustees are forwarded to the UNC System Office for final review and approval by the Board of Governors. This is the final step in the approval process.
10. Implementation and Notification
    • Once approved by the Board of Governors, the premium tuition rate will be applied to all currently enrolled and new students in the subsequent academic year.
    • The University Cashier’s Office will publish the new tuition rates. The Office of Instructional Programs will notify the program directors and departments of the premium tuition approval.

Timeline for the Proposal Review and Approval Process

Approximate Dates	Actions
January 2025	Provost’s Office announces the opportunity to submit proposal summaries for premium tuition and provides a timeline with dates.
February 2025	Programs submit proposal summaries to the Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs on February 15 for review.
March/April 2025	Programs who submitted proposal summaries are notified of results by March 3. Programs create full proposal with abstract and budget sheet.
May 2025	Programs submit final full proposals to the Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs by May 1. The Office of Instructional Programs, in cooperation with the University Budget Office, reviews the full proposals, with feedback and suggestions for improvement are provided as necessary.
June 2025	Provost reviews proposals and notifies program of results of review and that approved proposals will be put on the agenda for the Tuition Review Advisory Committee meetings in September/October. Provost sends approved proposals to TRAC for review. TRAC completes review and recommends proposals to the Chancellor for review. Chancellor reviews proposals and sends recommendations to the Board of Trustees. Board of Trustees reviews proposals and NC State sends recommendations to UNC System Office for review.
September/October 2025	Approved proposals .are placed on the agenda for the Tuition Review Advisory Committee to review and approve. TRAC completes review and recommends proposals to the Chancellor for review. Chancellor reviews proposals and sends recommendations to the Board of Trustees.
November/December 2025	The NC State Board of Trustees reviews the proposals for approval. If approved they are submitted to the UNC System Office.
March/April 2026	The UNC System presents proposals to Board of Governors for approval.
August 2026	Premium tuition for programs is implemented if approved.

FY 2026-27 Premium Tuition Proposals Process

Programs seeking premium tuition for FY 2026-27 should submit proposal summaries by February 15, 2025, to Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs Helen Chen, with a cc to her executive assistant LaTissa Davis, using the proposal summary template.

The Office of Instructional Programs will then work with the University Budget Office to review the summaries and make recommendations to Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Warwick Arden, who will then determine the next steps for the proposal which will be communicated back to the program.

NC State typically receives the FY 2026-27 Tuition and Fees instructions memo from the UNC System Office in September. Once received, we will share any information that could affect our process.

If you have any questions, please email Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs Helen Chen at hchen67@ncsu.edu.

Schedule for New Academic Programs

New academic programs currently under development and intending to charge premium tuition should contact the Office of Instructional Programs. This will ensure that the timeline for premium tuition submissions aligns with the projected approval timeline of the new degree program.

Questions?

If you have questions about this SOP or the proposal submission and review process, please contact Helen Chen, Senior Vice Provost for Instructional Programs, or LaTissa Davis, Executive Assistant to SVP Chen.