Mom and Dad, I love you. Also, I need money.
Barrett, the Honors College plans to double its students’ annual fee, from $500 to $1,000 by 2012. New students will begin paying the full $1,000 immediately, while current students will be charged with a gradual increase.
Mark Jacobs, the dean of the honors college, held two information sessions with students, who also had the opportunity to express their views through a survey about the proposed fee increase.
The proposed increase brings up questions about where the money is going and which campuses will benefit from it.
Jacobs said in an interview that a fee increase proposal had been in the works since before the state lowered its funding. Barrett’s budget will be organized according to each campus’s need, so no students will be overlooked.
While salaries make up most of the cost of Barrett expenses, programs like thesis reimbursement and honors-only classes will benefit from a roomier budget. Current faculty will not be given raises with the money, said Jacobs.
To answer questions about whether another increase is on the horizon, Jacobs said his track record — the $500 fee lasted four years — speaks for itself.
“My intent is to not raise it for another four years,” said Jacobs.
Hundreds of Barrett students, most of whom did not attend the information sessions with Dean Jacobs, took an online survey about their views on the fee increase. Approximately 50 percent of the students supported an increase, despite the fact that they had not received Jacobs’ explanation for the proposal.
Honors students at ASU are often paid to be here. According to the ASU Foundation, 25 percent of all Barrett students receive a National Merit-based scholarship, which usually covers $23,000 per year. For many Barrett students, protesting a fee would be like a government employee refusing to pay taxes.
The students who complain about a fee increase had other options when choosing a college. Anyone who wants to sacrifice a great education for an extra $500 can go to a community college, the University of Arizona or the University of Wal-Mart. Barrett isn’t just about slashing prices.
Students aren’t the only ones suffering from an ailing economy. Universities are being forced to make cuts, which leads to higher tuition and fees. It is expensive, but a college degree is one of the few safe investments a young person can make.
A proposed facilities fee at ASU garnered negative attention after it was rejected in a vote, and then proposed again for a second time. Along with rising tuition, book and housing prices, higher payments are becoming unpopular.
It may not be fun or popular, but a fee increase is necessary. While the cost of tuition goes up nearly every year, the honors college fee has remained steady in the past and the new price should have a long tenure.
So when the honors college proposes its fee increase in March, tighten your belts and open your checkbooks. Or just call your parents and tell them how much you love them.
Jack is broke. Send him $500 at jlfitzpa@asu.edu
