Once again, the Board of Trustees has raised annual tuition by about five percent. It’s necessary for tuition to rise over time, but where is the extra money going? Tuition money should be supporting Wesleyan as a school—as an educational institution. This means that in order to cut costs, classes should not be canceled and professors should be paid more, not less, than the national average.
Students do not come to Wesleyan for a top flight Administration. Rather than looking to cut costs from faculty departments, it would be wiser to give more thought before spending money on aesthetics and construction. For instance, why spend $15 million on the Zelnick Pavillion, if the facility is unable to handle a capacity audience from the ’92 Theater?
Tuition hikes may be necessary, but it is equally important to ensure an economically diverse class. Wesleyan offers some extremely helpful scholarships and aid to students in need, and will continue to do so even with the increased tuition. However, many middle to upper-middle class students qualify for little to no aid, and have trouble affording tuition as it is. Consistent with the national trend recently identified in the New York Times, middle class students are left disadvantaged, with decreasing options and increasing debts.
Meanwhile, the presence of students from upper-class backgrounds will increase on campus. Before applying to schools, students now attend college-prep courses and programs to better equip them for the next educational level. Diversity University has focused on ethnic diversity while economic diversity has been disappearing. Wesleyan cannot reverse this national trend by itself, but it can make progressive steps to relieve some of the financial burden its students face.
Through tuition freezing, which ensures that students pay the same for all four years, students would be able to make a more accurate financial forecast when considering what school to attend. Especially for students not receiving financial aid, this foresight and security would help decrease post-graduation debts.
University students recognize the importance of directing funds to the educational experience of Wesleyan. The senior class recently elected to present their gift to the Office of Financial Aid, supporting both current and future students.
Tuition increases accompany recent course cancellation and continued construction. The Administration and Board of Trustees should follow the students’ lead in prioritizing educational funding and scholarships with the increased tuitions they will be receiving.
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