Businesses all around have been cutting back their expenses more noticeably this year. Many of them are struggling to make a profit.
IU is no exception. Even though many students look at this place as just a school, for all intents and purposes, it really is a multi-million dollar business. The university is doing its best to stay in operation and thrive.
On July 6, IU President Michael McRobbie recommended a tuition increase of 4.4 percent for this academic year and a 4.6 percent increase for the following academic year.
McRobbie said tuition increases and spending reductions should prepare IU for a potential six percent cut in state funding in two years.
That’s all fine and good, but what about the students who don’t get any financial aid? What of the people who have to pay just to keep the IU system’s momentum going?
Well, he also said he expected more financial aid grants to help counterbalance the tuition increase costs. There will supposedly be $250 million of financial aid available to IU students across all seven campuses.
“We are recommending to trustees a tuition plan for the next two years that, together with increased financial aid, will mean that annual tuition payments for in-state IU students should decrease by an average of $177,” McRobbie said.
An average of $177 for IU students state-wide is definitely going to be weighted by some large scholarships out there.
As I learned in one of my classes here at IU Southeast, I want to see where the median falls in this range. The median is more accurate when it comes to money comparisons. It shows what most students really pay without bias from the amount.
I’m willing to bet most students will be paying more than they have been.
In fact, IUS students actually are going to be paying more than the year before, on average. For 2009 to 2010, IUS students will pay about $55 more a year for out-of-pocket tuition.
For 2010 to 2011, we’ll pay an additional $65.
It’s not a terribly big increase, but there’s definitely a spin on the story. IU officials are implying they’re lowering out-of-pocket costs with increased grant money, but that is only true for selected students.
To review all of the charts for out-of-pocket tuition for each of the IU campuses, go to http://www.indiana.edu/~iunews/09feerecommendations.pdf.
While it’s true many students are eligible for some financial aid and IU Southeast does offer in-house scholarships, it doesn’t go out to everyone.
I know more than a few students who didn’t qualify for state or federal aid this year.
One common reason they didn’t qualify is they make too much money to get federal or state aid, which can really hurt them because they don’t make enough to balance all the other costs of living. They’re stuck in the middle.
I also know not every student completes the FAFSA, which is required for aid. At least the Office of Financial Aid tries to get the word out about how important it is.
Still, many students are caught in the middle. I could find a lot of students who are struggling to make ends meet.
Don’t get me wrong. I know going to college is a choice and not a given right.
There is indeed a rate of exchange, which happens to be increasing for both students and administration.
I fear the price is going to keep getting higher and higher. When the IU system is no longer affordable in the minds of many college-bound students, there will be those who choose to go to other schools.
Instead of complaining about it, I suggest the IU higher-ups find more ways to cut expenses.
For instance, IU Southeast could’ve saved a lot of money by not adding more flat-screen TVs to The Commons like they have this summer.
Even if they are running advertisements and campus events on there, not many students are going to even see the content. They’ll be watching a game show or something else on the other TV sets. IU Southeast could’ve saved some money there.
McRobbie has been trying to cut some costs at the administration level. He ordered salaries of IU employees to be frozen this fiscal year to maintain the costs of operation.
I can understand the freeze and don’t condemn the decision, but there are some employees who won’t be getting what they deserve.
Of course, that’s life.
College is getting more and more expensive as time goes on. If a student gets any financial aid, they are fortunate.
I still think the priority for IU higher-ups is money and not the quality of education.
I want to hear a story about how the university is finding a more effective way to evaluate whether or not students are learning what they ought to know for their careers. I won’t hold my breath.
Every student pays the money first and then the education follows. Think about it.
By JOSEPH DEVER
Editor
jwdever@ius.edu