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Steve Matson, Dean
Steve Matson, Dean

Dear Students:
I know we are all interested in the tax reform legislation now making its way through Congress and how it may affect graduate education. I want to assure you we are taking this very seriously. Since late October, The Graduate School has been working closely with University leaders, our Office of Federal Affairs and other officials to provide them with information about the potential impact on our students. And in recent weeks, Chancellor Carol L. Folt, Provost Bob Blouin, the University’s federal relations team, and I have worked with and communicated to members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation and others to make sure they have the facts from the University’s perspective.

As part of my membership in the Council of Graduate Schools, I wrote letters (sent via email) at the end of October to Representative Price, Senator Burr and Senator Tillis to inform them of the potential negative impacts of taxing tuition waivers/remission on graduate education in North Carolina. On campus, I have also shared updates with directors of our University’s graduate programs and worked closely with others who care deeply about graduate education. Finally, I want to recognize The Graduate and Professional Student Federation’s tremendous job in providing students with opportunities for positive advocacy. I believe those efforts are making a difference.

Graduate education makes vital contributions to Carolina, to our state and beyond. You are a part of this important research, teaching and outreach. Please know that we are monitoring this issue very carefully.

Sincerely,
Steve Matson,
Dean, The Graduate School

Update 12/20/2017

Dear Students:
I am writing to provide an update on the tax reform legislation making its way through Congress: The conference bill approved in both the House and Senate does not include language that will result in the taxation of tuition remission. In addition, it maintains the student loan interest deduction.

Chancellor Carol L. Folt, Provost Bob Blouin, the University’s Office of Federal Affairs and I worked with and communicated to members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation and others to make sure they had the facts from the University’s perspective. The Graduate and Professional Student Federation did a tremendous job in providing students with opportunities for positive advocacy.

I had mentioned these efforts in my earlier email, and I think it’s important to reiterate that our University strongly supports and values the contributions of graduate students. You provide important research, teaching and outreach that benefits Carolina, our state and beyond.

Best wishes for the semester break and the holiday season.
Steve Matson
Dean, The Graduate School

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