Chancellor Wendler needs to look into Western Illinois University's tuition plan, which guarantees tuition, fees and room and board for up to four years.
The rate, according to the website, will be fixed for a four-year period and remain in effect as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. If a major requires more than four years to complete, the guaranteed rate will be extended to cover the expected time for degree completion.
What I want to know is why is this the only Illinois university using this program? Granted, it wouldn't help the students who are already attending SIU, but it would help any future students. This program could also help recruit students. The school would be telling the students, yes tuition is increasing, but it will not increase for you again while you're here.
The whole notion might sound even better to parents since some students are financially dependent on them. I can't imagine many parents are anxious to send their kids to a well-known party school, but if the school shows them that they will save some money, they may suddenly become enthusiastic.
Then there is the satisfaction of knowing what will be owed every year, allowing the student to calculate his expenses more accurately. This program will allow the student to calculate how many hours he/she needs to work, how in debt college will make him/her and how long it will take to get out of it.
It seems like a pretty sound idea. Southern needs to look into it.
Christopher Morrical
junior, journalism
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
