(JOUR 310) Interview Prep, Questions, and Sources

Matt McNair

Title: Chancellor, Matt McNair

Position & Relevance: McNair leads the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE), the governing body that proposed and approved the recent tuition increases affecting UNLV and other public institutions. He has insight into the statewide financial strategy and rationale behind the hikes.

Why I selected him:

As the systemwide chancellor, McNair can speak to the policy justification, budgeting constraints, and statewide strategy that led to tuition increases.

Interview questions:

1. What specific budget shortfalls or structural funding issues drove the recent decision to raise tuition at UNLV?

2. How did NSHE evaluate the impact on student access and equity before recommending tuition increases?

3. What alternatives were considered to raising tuition, and why were they rejected?

4. How does NSHE plan to measure whether the tuition hike negatively affects enrollment or degree completion rates?

5. What concessions, if any, were made to mitigate student financial stress (scholarships, aid programs) tied to the increase?

6. What role did public comment or student input play in the final decision?

7. What is the level of transparency in how tuition revenue will be allocated (e.g., faculty salaries vs. administrative costs)?

8. How does NSHE balance tuition increases across campuses with differing local economic realities?

9. What are the long-term financial planning strategies to avoid similar increases in the future?

10. How does the tuition decision align with NSHE’s mission to maintain affordability while sustaining academic quality?

Kelechi Odunze

Title: Student Body President of CSUN, Kelechi Odunze

Position & Relevance: As the elected undergraduate student government leader at UNLV, Odunze represents student perspectives, including concerns about tuition hikes.

Why I selected him:

Odunze has directly collected student feedback and has publicly spoken out about how tuition increases may price out students.

Interview questions:

1. What have been the most common concerns students expressed to you about rising tuition?

2. How has CSUN organized or mobilized students in response to the tuition decision?

3. What specific data or student testimony have you shared with NSHE or the Regents?

4. How do students view the balance between faculty compensation and rising student costs?

5. Explain why you believe the student voice was adequately considered in the tuition decision process. And if you believe it wasn't considered, explain why you believe that instead.

6. What support services (e.g., financial counseling) do students request responding to rising costs?

7. How might tuition hikes impact student retention or graduation timelines at UNLV?

8. How can student organizations worked with state lawmakers about higher-ed funding alternatives?

9. What changes would you recommend to future tuition governance processes?

10. How do current financial aid and scholarship programs mitigate tuition hikes for low-income students?

Chris Viton

Title: Vice Chancellor of Budget and Finance / CFO, NSHE Chris Viton

Position & Relevance: Responsible for systemwide budgeting, Viton oversees financial planning and can explain the fiscal pressures that intersect tuition revenue, operating costs, and state funding. 

Why I selected him:

Viton can speak to the numbers and fiscal reasoning behind tuition increases - crucial for data-driven reporting or accountability journalism. 

Interview questions:

1. Can you break down the projected revenue gains from the tuition hikes and how those funds will be allocated?

2. What percentage of UNLV’s overall budget is now covered by tuition vs. state appropriations?

3. How much of the tuition increase is directly linked to bridges/shortfalls from prior legislative funding?

4. What efficiencies, cuts, or cost-saving measures were evaluated before deciding on tuition increases?

5. How does NSHE factor inflation and operating cost projections into tuition planning?

6. What is the projected impact of tuition increases on financial aid budgets?

7. How does the budgeting process ensure that tuition revenue supports student success (services, advising, retention programs)?

8. To what extent are non-instructional costs (e.g., facilities, administration) reflected in tuition projections?

9. How would you quantify potential job or program cuts that would occur without tuition increases?

10. What long-term budget forecasting models does NSHE use to anticipate future tuition adjustments?

Marni Dow

Title: AFC Representative of the UNLV Faculty Senate, Marni Dow

Position & Relevance: Faculty governance can offer academic and instructional perspectives on tuition increases - how they affect teaching quality, faculty workloads, and the academic mission.

Why I selected her:

Faculty representatives often balance between student concerns and institutional realities, and can discuss academic impacts.

Interview questions:

1. How do tuition increases affect faculty recruitment and retention?

2. How have faculty been part of shared governance discussions about tuition policy?

3. What concerns do faculty have about student success and tuition affordability?

4. How do tuition increases impact classroom resources or support for students?

5. What were the proposals from faculty for alternative funding mechanisms, if there were any?

6. What role should faculty governance play in tuition decisions?

7. How have faculty observed changes in student financial stress?

8. How have budget cuts affected academic programs or class offerings?

9. How do tuition increases affect graduate assistantship funding or research?

10. What is faculty sentiment about balancing compensation with student affordability?

Eleonora (Nora) Carroll, B.A.

Title: Director of Financial Aid Eleonora Carroll, B.A.

Position & Relevance: Financial aid administrators understand how tuition changes affect student financial planning, aid packages, and debt burdens.

Why I selected her:

They can provide specifics on students’ ability to pay, trends in aid requests, and the systemic impact of tuition hikes on student debt and enrollment.

Interview questions:

1. How have financial aid applications trended since tuition increases were proposed?

2. What types of aid (scholarships, grants, loans) have seen the greatest demand?

3. How many students are projected to have unmet financial need after tuition adjustments?

4. How do current aid programs sufficiently cover projected tuition increases?

5. Explain how part-time enrollment has become an alternative that students are taking given the rising tuition costs.

6. What changes to financial aid policy have been considered in response to rising costs?

7. How does financial aid counseling address tuition affordability conversations with students?

8. What would be specific populations (e.g., low-income, first-gen) disproportionately affected, if there are any?

9. How does UNLV track student debt outcomes after graduation?

10. What external funding partnerships (community, scholarships) are being explored to offset tuition pressures?