DU has increased its tuition again. In the midst of a pandemic, is this the most practical strategy to retain students?
DU announced the tuition increase through email at 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26, 2020. It was sent out to the entire student body, stating that the Board of Trustees decided to increase the undergraduate tuition by 2%. There will also be a 3.5% increase in room and board rates. The trustees insisted that the decision was made while taking into consideration the current pandemic and students’ situations.
Some of the unplanned costs the university accumulated are “testing, contact tracing, increased cleaning and disinfection of our residences, classrooms and workspaces, new technology costs related to online instruction and financial aid for families experiencing significant financial loss.” The email also emphasized that increasing tuition is a common trend among universities, and compared to their peer institutions, DU’s tuition increase is significantly lower.
Undergraduate students were left unhappy with the new tuition increase. Several were not hesitant to voice their opinions. “DU cares more about money than their students,” said Patty Barajas, a current transfer student at DU.
Barajas expresses what we are all thinking. Last year’s hike was 3.5%. This year, it is lower, but the ongoing increase in tuition is not beneficial to students at all. The reason for last year’s increase was “to plan for a more substantial future.” This year, DU explains it was done to save money. There was nothing specific said to help students succeed in their academics and retain their scholarships.
If the university claimed to care for its students, they would send them home. This would cut the costs of cleaning and ensure no on-campus parties and would help decrease the spread of COVID-19.
In September, students attending Florida State University threw a large party with over 1,000 attendees. These types of gatherings are unavoidable, as students crave normal campus life during COVID-19. Students should have been told to stay home instead of return to campus. But now, it is too risky for them to go back. Governor Polis recommended that CU Boulder not send students home, as outbreaks on campus risk having them spread COVID-19 in their hometowns. Students have been given the added responsibility of avoiding risky behavior that exposes them to COVID-19.
The more concerning part about the new tuition increase was the severe impact it will have on low-income minority students. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “College cost increases have the biggest impact on students from low-income families, research shows. For example, states with the largest tuition increases during the 1980s and early 1990s ‘saw the greatest widening of the gaps in enrollment between high and low-income youth.’” Many families lack knowledge about the admissions and financial aid process, which makes their situation more problematic. This is one of the factors as to why many colleges, including DU, lack so much diversity.
“Tuition increases do nothing but phase out students of color from attending this university,” said Julisa Caraveo, current fourth-year at DU.
Surely there must be other ways to save money and cut costs that do not severely impact students. It would be more helpful if some of the budget went towards more academic scholarships or making college textbooks affordable. These options would help students be academically successful and be a thoroughly worthwhile investment.
