Opinion: Tuition problem
August 27, 2020
To say that the virus has changed the college experience would be an understatement. In many ways, it has upended the whole thing. Everything we once took for granted has been taken away. Gone are the regular trips to the dining hall, clubs and sports, the parties and in-person classes. While there are still some still available, most courses have shifted to online formats.
It’s understandable why the university would make a move like this. It’s simply too dangerous for students to meet in the large groups that traditional classes require. However, it’s undeniable that for many of those classes, the online experience is not the same. Some classes simply can’t be taught in that environment, such as dance or theatre. However, the faculty must do the best they can with the resources available.
What’s incomprehensible is why students have to pay the same amount for less of an education. Every enrolled student is paying a tuition fee that represents a brick-and-mortar public university, one where they expect in-person classes. However, that’s not what we’re receiving. How is it fair to expect the student body to pay the same tuition amount?
The campus needs to have money coming in to run, and it’s hard to suddenly cut budgets. There are many entities that need funding and there’s probably already a tight financial squeeze on the school. However, it seems to be the only right action to do. Make no mistake, App State is ripping us off. We are paying a first-rate price for what is frankly a second-rate experience. If you want all online classes, there’s cheaper institutions.
App State needs to refund a portion of tuition. College is inherently a business, and the students are customers. This business is trying to make us pay full price for a product that is clearly broken. If the university has any respect for the money that its customers are paying, it should do something about it. Create a price for the new normal, a price that reflects what we’re actually getting.
John Gruntfest • Sep 3, 2020 at 4:27 am
Thanks for sharing your frustration and perhaps echoing other’s disappointment. It’s important to vent. The reality is sometimes “It is what it is” and you have the choice to participate or not. Make the most of what’s afforded at this time. All schools are going through some unfortunate circumstances but it’s not the new norm. App State is a better place to be riding this wave than all other institutions in NC
Darian Buchanan • Sep 2, 2020 at 4:43 pm
Y’all need to chill! Life gives us lemons sometimes. So you paid for something you didn’t get to use this semester. Wow! Really Ever heard of federal income tax? Maybe the Army, Navy or Marines Is where you need to be. . I consider myself liberal, but you whiny privileged pubes think you’re owed something! Give me a break! Y’all should have taken the semester off and helped get the vote out. Go App State!
B.B. Dougherty • Aug 28, 2020 at 8:18 am
If you think a college education is a business and you’re a customer, that’s where your App State education has failed you and you should reconsider being here. And heck dude, man up. Don’t just attack the App State faculty with vague generalities and hyperbolic claims that faculty are teaching “broken” classes — present some evidence or go home. Actually, given your distorted views on what a college education is and your use of vague generalities to support your “argument” maybe you should go home.
MuChao • Aug 27, 2020 at 2:45 pm
Most faculty are trying their hardest to provide students as valuable of an education as they possibly can during these times. While online is not ideal by any means, I think you might do better going after not just tuition, but *student fee* money. If you want to talk about a real scam, remember that students pay just over $1,000/year to subsidize the losses (read: the inability) of the Athletics program to pay for itself. Not only that, but students are being forced to pay down debts owed on Athletics construction projects which were completed years ago. Students are also helping to pay the salaries for an army of unnecessary administrators, as well as grossly-overpaid athletics directors/coaches. If you want to talk about where the real rip-off is, start there.