Spring Break
Talking Heads
DC COLUMNISTS DEBATE: The tuition increase
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Commentary
• Enrollment at UConn is constantly increasing. The high numbers of applicants and students will not decrease because of a tuition increase.
• Even with a tuition increase, the overall cost of attendance at UConn is much cheaper than most private schools.
• Although tuition is important, it is not the only factor. Much of UConn's appeal is a result of its strong programs and the services it offers. Those would be lost if we decide to cut programs and staff in lieu of raising tuition.
• The best option right now is to keep as much money in employees' pockets as possible; that money will end up being pumped back into the economy anyway. Raise and benefit freezes will only stifle the economic recovery process.
• Individual and family financial situations are out of the university's hands. The best the university can do is raise as much money as possible (via tuition) to support the faculty and staff and help them keep their jobs.
• Even though student priorities are the most important, a tuition hike would not cause UConn's enrollment to decrease. With the economy the way it is, UConn must do all it can to help employees (including student employees) keep their jobs and maintain services. Those services are major incentives that add to UConn's appeal; cutting services will drastically hurt UConn overall. Our tuition is still one of the best bargains in town.
• Increased tuition will discourage students from attending. Many students attend UConn because of its comparatively-affordable cost (particularly in-state). Driving up tuition will end this trend.
• UConn is, for now, cheaper than many private schools, but many students (including myself) are attending UConn on their own dime. Every dollar of a tuition increase is an added burden to students who are trying to pay their own way.
• Option A (no tuition increase, severe budget cuts) and Option D (a double-digit percentage increase in tuition, but no program/job cuts) are both unacceptable. Granted, the economy is changing, and as such, we will need to pay more in tuition to make up for other shortcomings economically. Option D, however, is too extreme; in these tough times, we need to eliminate some programs and jobs in order to keep costs at reasonable levels.
• Even with a tuition increase, the overall cost of attendance at UConn is much cheaper than most private schools.
• Although tuition is important, it is not the only factor. Much of UConn's appeal is a result of its strong programs and the services it offers. Those would be lost if we decide to cut programs and staff in lieu of raising tuition.
• The best option right now is to keep as much money in employees' pockets as possible; that money will end up being pumped back into the economy anyway. Raise and benefit freezes will only stifle the economic recovery process.
• Individual and family financial situations are out of the university's hands. The best the university can do is raise as much money as possible (via tuition) to support the faculty and staff and help them keep their jobs.
• Even though student priorities are the most important, a tuition hike would not cause UConn's enrollment to decrease. With the economy the way it is, UConn must do all it can to help employees (including student employees) keep their jobs and maintain services. Those services are major incentives that add to UConn's appeal; cutting services will drastically hurt UConn overall. Our tuition is still one of the best bargains in town.
• Increased tuition will discourage students from attending. Many students attend UConn because of its comparatively-affordable cost (particularly in-state). Driving up tuition will end this trend.
• UConn is, for now, cheaper than many private schools, but many students (including myself) are attending UConn on their own dime. Every dollar of a tuition increase is an added burden to students who are trying to pay their own way.
• Option A (no tuition increase, severe budget cuts) and Option D (a double-digit percentage increase in tuition, but no program/job cuts) are both unacceptable. Granted, the economy is changing, and as such, we will need to pay more in tuition to make up for other shortcomings economically. Option D, however, is too extreme; in these tough times, we need to eliminate some programs and jobs in order to keep costs at reasonable levels.
Be the first to comment on this story