UNC President Tom Ross will find his skills as a negotiator tested this week when the Board of Governors convenes to deliberate in-state tuition increases for all UNC-system schools.

Ross must find a way to balance the needs of university chancellors and the protests of college students who say they are already struggling to cover the cost of tuition, books, and other required fees. At the same time, President Obama has suggested colleges that don’t rein in their tuition prices could see fewer federal financial aid dollars.

Friday’s vote on the unprecedented proposed tuition hike comes after the Republican-led legislature passed a budget that forced cuts of $414 million to the system’s 17 campuses.

And even as student body presidents are supporting Ross’ proposal to limit the increase on tuition and fees to an average 8.8 percent, the system will face another round of cuts next year.

Ross tells N.C. Policy Watch the biennium budget calls for an additional $10 million in reductions and allocates no new money for enrollment growth.

To hear UNC System President Tom Ross discuss the budget crunch with Chris Fitzsimon, click below. You can hear the full radio interview from News & Views here.