UIC Today : August 25, 2001

USG sets agenda for school year
Increase in tuition plan flawed

By UIC Today

The UIC Today editorial staff would like to re-affirm its opposition to the $1,000 tuition hike, which began partial implementation this semester.

Incoming freshmen should realize that they are paying $500 more per semester for the same services as their fellow returning students.

Next year's incoming class will pay $1,000 more per semester for the same services.

The plan, which was approved of and aggressively marketed by former student government leaders Arun Reddy and Joe Steinfels to students on campus, was tied to a series of improvements at UIC.

This year, only approximately $2 million of the $13.7M anticipated recurring additional funds will be made available, so we can't expect everything to happen all at once.

However, $2 million dollars is still a not insignificant chunk of change.

For that $2 million, the promised improvements could be made to any two of the following areas: Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Learning Communities, Instructional Technology, Student Computer Laboratories, and Academic Advising. According to a statement released by the Provost's office when the plan was being sold to students, each of these areas is slated to receive about $1M in new funds.

That same statement spoke of using the money for things such as developing an Asian-American studies program, increasing library resources and availability, and making "admissions, financial aid, and registration services easier, better, faster, and available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week."

Regardless of whether the campus makes good on these promises, the UIC Today opposes the increases because 1) they will price out certain students, and 2) the campus hasn't come close to eliminating wasteful spending in other areas.

There is no reason for the second $500 increase to be levied on incoming students. Last year, students weren't concerned because the increase wouldn't affect them personally. This year's freshmen are picking up the tab for that attitude. Does the current student body support another $500 increase for next year's freshmen?

The UIC Today certainly does not.