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Printer-Friendly ModeStudents should find worth in tuition increase
June 26, 2006 —
Over the course of the past several years SVSU students have experienced one tuition increase after another. For the 2006-2007 school year, an undergrad from Michigan can expect to shell out around $5,500 for a year of tuition - an increase of about 4.9 percent.
In the abstract, this is a steep figure. Yet, as the University administration constantly reminds us, SVSU is the least expensive of Michigan's state universities and offers numerous other advantages over its counterparts. Most often cited among these advantages: smaller class sizes, a high computer-to-student ratio, a modern campus equipped with excellent facilities ... the list goes on. The question is: are you, the student, getting what you paid for?
Higher education is a two-way street. The university works to provide you with the tools necessary to earn a degree. The role of the institution in higher education is not to hand out certification and accreditation in exchange for Cheerios box tops, however pleasurable that scenario may seem. If you, as a student, sit idly by, absorbing and regurgitating information, you are not getting your $5,550 worth. It is up to you to take advantage of the resources the university provides.
Some examples: hate math? Visit the Math Resource Center. You still won't like math afterwards, but you'll know that if you're stuck on a problem, there's help available. The same goes for the Writing Center: you pay these people to help you write. If you're not seeking the help (if you need it), you're not getting your money's worth.
Through all of this, it is important to remember that universities rely overwhelmingly on human labor. SVSU is no exception, and with the tremendous growth we have witnessed over the course of the past decade, it should come as no surprise that compensation for faculty, administration professionals, and other staff composes a significant part of the university's budget. A significant chunk of your $5,500 goes to the salaries of these people. If you are of the opinion that they are performing their job inadequately, there are outlets which are meant to give a voice to your concerns.
The open forums held by President Eric R. Gilbertson come to mind first; the Vanguard regularly reports on the forums (which occur on a monthly basis), and unfortunately, they are usually sparsely attended. Why? This is your chance, as a student, to air views fully and express any concerns you have, directly to the president of the institution, who wields a great deal of power and influence. Students at other universities would relish such an opportunity.
Quite recently, several students expressed concerns over the performance of SVSU's CardMail e-mail system, which has been performing quite poorly as of late. Thanks to the forum, the students were able to directly communicate with Ken Schindler, the director of ITS. ITS immediately issued an official statement on the future of CardMail, authored by Schindler himself.
That is an especially revealing example of how open the environment of inquiry is at SVSU. As Gilbertson mentioned in the State of the University address in January, some human organizations tend to fall victim to "institutional arrogance." That is, the inclination of institutions to view their existence as a particularly convenient way of employing the members within it. As a student, you are given the opportunity to keep this temptation at bay. Attend some forums. Participate in some intramural sports. Play ping-pong, pool, and video games in the Student Center. Eat lots at the RFoC (but make sure to compliment the people behind the counter). Visit your professor and tell him or her you love and/or hate something in class. Rent out a bunch of books and DVDs from the Library. Get help with your math or writing. Submit an entry to Cardinal Sins. Write for the Vanguard. Use the brand-spanking-new computers in the micro labs. Visit the art galleries. Go to a few concerts. To get your money's worth, all you have to do is something.