LETTER: Tuition hikes beneficial?

Dear Editor,

Are complaints against tuition hikes tenable? I am writing in response to the letter to the editor arguing that tuition costs are high enough. Don’t mistake me, I don’t want to pay more either. However, many students would like to see the classroom size diminished.

Most of us would love to see USU become an institution more recognizable in academia. These outcomes can only be the result of increased available funds. The most efficient ways seem to be one of the following: inflated subsidies, cost-cutting procedures or tuition hikes. Unless the government gives more money, a combination of the latter two may be necessary. A rise in the price of education would reduce the education demanded. This means improved student-to-faculty ratios.

It was mentioned that USU professors receive less than those at other schools. This was qualified with the fact that Logan pays lower overall wages. Should cuts be taken from their paychecks? Do we want our professors to be replaced with less-qualified substitutes? I don’t want our best teachers out looking for increasingly available better options. In a world of rising costs and competition, maintaining tuition would lead to lower-quality faculty and less of an education. Higher education is a wonderful investment. How high of a return are we expecting?

M. Ryan Ellis