One of the major concerns most college students have is the rising cost of tuition. In an effort to keep that concern at bay, the Student Government Association is working on a number of plans designed to help keep costs down.
In a plan proposed in the spring semester, SGA voted for a tuition cap, where a student’s tuition wouldn't increase as long as they were a full time student, maintained a 2.75 GPA, and could graduate in five years.
After studying numbers ran by the accounting and finance offices, it was determined that, although 70 percent of the student body would qualify, it would only actually benefit 28 percent of qualifying students—and the University would lose over $24 million in revenue.
Because of that fact, the likelihood of the tuition cap getting approved by the Tennessee Board of Regents is “slim,” according to SGA president Ricky Kirby.
Sophomore criminal justice major Andreas Nunley doesn't like that the tuition cap might not get approved.
“Tuition is already high,” Nunley said. “Allowing room to increase it will make it harder for students to come up with the money to pay for school.”
In an SGA meeting last Thursday, other ideas were proposed in the event that the tuition cap was denied. A backup plan offers students a chance to pay for 12 hours in the fall and spring semesters but actually take 15 hours.
Kirby is confident that the SGA will find a way to stop tuition from being raised, but if the University needed to raise revenues, one of the better ways of getting more money would be to raise tuition.
“We hope they can find a way to keep tuition down,” said Kirby. “Last semester there were 27,000 empty seats in classes. The plan would fill seats that essentially have already been paid for. I really want students to know that SGA is committed to keeping tuition flat.”
The SGA’s “plan C” would allow students to buy three summer credit hours and get three summer credit hours for free—essentially, “buy one, get one.” SGA hopes the plan will help with retention.
The SGA has a variety of cards up its sleeve, but according to Kirby, the problem with these plans is the lack of student input
“We need student input on the different things we’re working on,” he said.
Junior sociology and child development major Pedra Carroll says plan C is “a beautiful idea,” and senior health and human performance major Courtney Claxton agrees.
“I would take advantage of it,” Claxton said. “Next summer I have to take three classes that aren’t offered at Southwest [Community College], so it would beneficial if I could get them for free.”
Sophomore criminal justice major Cedric Smith “would take summer classes all the time” if he could get one for free.
The Student Government Association hopes that these plans not only appeal to students, but with the Tennessee Board of Regents, with whom the final decision rests.
