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Proposed tuition bill counterproductive
On Sept. 4, two Republican representatives published
a report criticizing rising tuition at American colleges
and universities.
The two, John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, and Howard D. McKeon,
R-Calif., are proposing a bill to address skyrocketing
tuition rates at many public and private schools nationwide.
The conditions of the proposed bill state that if tuition
grows at more than twice the rate of the Consumer Price
Index a figure, put forth by the federal government,
denoting the cost of a market basket of
goods and services purchased by the average American
over three consecutive years, the institution
in question must bring about a plan for curbing costs.
The school then has two to three years to implement
the plan. If, after this period, tuition is still growing
too fast, federal sanctions will be imposed.
To any college student or college students
parents this sounds like a great way for the
federal government to step in and keep costs under control.
The report even states, decades of uncontrolled
cost increases are pushing the dream of a college degree
further out of reach for needy students.
Sounds like Reps. Boehner and McKeon are really looking
out for the students bottom lines, right?
It does, until the sanctions themselves are considered.
A school that cant get its tuition under control
would face, according to the proposed bill, the loss
of some federal student aid programs.
In other words, if tuition at dear ol State U
gets ridiculous, students will have less help paying
it.
This will help students to achieve the dream of a college
degree, how?
There must be another way. The goal of the proposed
bill is admirable its just the means of
carrying it out that stink.
Any financial sanction imposed on a college or university
is ultimately going to hurt students. Whatever monetary
penalties are imposed will be compensated at the students
expense, either in terms of further increased tuition
or a compromise in the quality of education.
Instead of hurting those whom the bill claims to be
aiding, why not impose sanctions that no sane university
will be able to ignore?
Consider threatening schools with a loss of accreditation.
Without it, no school can stay in business. Or the federal
government could create a new category and bestow upon
or withhold a title or particular standing from schools,
based on their tuition-raising record.
Give the proposed bill some teeth just dont
bite students with them.
This
is a Staff Editorial from The Pitt News at the University
of Pittsburgh.
This editorial was distributed by U-Wire.
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