Good Grades=Frozen Tuition?

Good Grades=Frozen Tuition?

by Jade Polay 

As a fourth year student at a university that once topped the charts for its expensive price tag, I am well acquainted with the debt crisis that is posing implications for both students and their families. According to a recently published article in The New York Times, "the average student-loan debt of borrowers in the college class of 2011 rose to about $26,500, a 5 percent increase from the previous year." This statistic is alarming considering the number of recent college graduates who are struggling to find jobs and make ends meet. As current unemployment and student debt rates continue to rise, universities are reconsidering how they can make education more affordable. 

In a much simpler time, (during the late 70s and early 80s when my parents attended college) it was almost unheard of, blasphemous if you will, to move back in with your parents after graduation. The search for a job was also much less arduous. Today, recent college graduates are fortunate enough to land an unpaid internship at a reputable organization, simply to enhance their resumes. 

In an effort to alleviate student debt, Indiana University President Michael McRobbie recently announced the University's decision to stabilize the tuition of sophomore students who are in good academic standing and on track to graduate. At the annual State of the union address, McRobbie said, "We will in effect freeze tuition costs for all our students after their sophomore years provided they have completed a sufficient course load to allow them to graduate on time." Is freezing tuition costs for students who are simply doing what they are supposed to be doing, the answer? 

As tuition rates continue to soar, students are increasingly taking out loans and enrolling in public universities. I most certainly commend Indiana University for taking the initiative to help decrease costs and encourage students to graduate on time. I do, however, have difficulty understanding how the decision will impact students who are not in "good" academic standing. Will tuition rates continue to rise for these students who might be struggling in school? Although frozen tuition is a great incentive to encourage students to work that much harder towards their diplomas, I wonder how this will impact students' views on their educational experience. Will students be that much more diligent and put effort into their studies, simply to decrease their bills? 

The initiative is an experiment that the Indiana administration plans to evaluate. I am most curious to see, however, if it has any impact on struggling students who might change their habits in order to eliminate costs.