Monday’s Student Government Association (SGA) meeting voted on three bills as well as discussing potential changes to university structure, which involves curriculum requirements and infrastructure changes.
A 1.5% increase in tuition costs for in-state freshman was voted upon by the faculty senate, as per Executive of Internal Affairs Kaiwen Eddings. An increase of $65.
“They’re gonna have another meeting up next month and a joint meeting between their faculty senate and health and Counseling,” Eddings said.
Teachers and professors may now call on behalf of their students to be seen on the same day, according to Eddings.
“When health and counseling was given a spiel on how to get more students to unca, they were talking about doing something like making sports plugs big on campus” Eddings said.
The student success and experience committee set goals on increasing student retention to 50% by 2030.
“Fun fact: our graduation rate is about 45%,” said Junior Senator, Morgan Kim.
Methods of increasing retention included field trips and alternative spring breaks.
“We intend to achieve this goal without sacrificing the academic rigour. We aim to reduce instructor dependent grade inflation by conducting sample grading calibration by comparing grade distribution between instructors,” Kim said during the Student Success and Experience committee briefing.
This will also include implementation by fall of 2026.
“Campus-wide department-specific student retention model that attends to academic rigor as well as comprehensive scaffolding and increases retention rates of continuing students,” Kim said.
As well, Kim reported on increasing infrastructure spending by 20% by 2030, including a full accessibility audit of all campus buildings by December 2026 and complete all renovations needed for full Americans with Disabilities Act compliance by 2035.
By May 2026, the university intends to administer a student survey for new shuttle destinations with implementation of at least two new routes, extend outwards until 10 p.m. and direct access to downtown and at least one more location identified in the student survey, Kim said.
In regards to bills, a bill proposing changes to requirements of SGA pay. Secondly, funding BSA’s black history Feb. 28 event in collaboration with fraternities with App state. Lastly, a bill setting the timeline for the upcoming SGA elections.
The “Establishing conditions for the eligibility of the Senate pay Act” requires that the next senate cycle member sponsor attend 80% of SGA meetings and all bi-weekly committee meetings, write at least 3 bills, do one “initiatives” – like hosting a tabling event – and as well for each senator to attend at least two SGA sponsored events. This has been referred to the constitution and by laws committee.
The “Get Steppin’ Mixer Appropriations Act” allocated funds for the upcoming black history month event. As per the bill: “The Student Government Association appropriates $200 to compensate participating organizations for accepting our invitation to perform at UNC Asheville, as well as the cost of transportation. Funds for this initiative are unallocated funds as a result of a state reimbursement for hosting Association of Student Governments (ASG) in April 2025.” This bill was passed.
The last of the bills voted upon and passed was the “Spring ‘26 SGA General Elections Timeline Act.” The timeline is as follows: March 2-15 is the candidacy declaration period, a rules meeting on March 16, campaign week from March 17-22. The voting period following is from March 23-25, with results to be announced on Friday, March 27. If need be, a runoff election will be held on April 1, and results announced on April 2.
If you would like to run for the 2026-2027 election, here is the form to apply:
https://unca.campuslabs.com/engage/submitter/form/start/714964
Currently, the SGA suggestion box is located in the lounge area across from the Highsmith Student Union help desk. Alternatively, here is an online form:
