LETTER: Why make Utah students pay?

Editor,

When I read in the paper about the in-state tuition policy change for students that exceed 135 percent of the 120 credits needed to graduate, I was shocked. As a senior with 150 credits I think what I have to say represents what many students in my position feel.

First of all, the day of the four-year degree has long since passed along with letterman jackets and beanies. What is the Board of Regents thinking? Have they not taken into consideration how different the job market is that our generation is facing? If anything, securing employment upon graduation depends upon one’s ability to specialize, which often cannot be accomplished with a standard BA of 120 credits. In fact, as a peer adviser I have noticed that there are many students who double major or take on multiple minors for the sake of being able to compete in today’s job market. As further evidence I would point to the current unemployment rates for graduates from USU. Finally, I am curious to see how this policy will fly in departments such as music or engineering, notorious for having students who exceed the 120 credit limit.

The second point I would like to raise is that although Utah is facing considerable crises with higher education, I don’t think that forcing students to graduate faster will help solve these problems. What happened to the learning part of a degree? How does rushing to get a degree when one is not prepared benefit anyone? If anything, this policy is alienating students who I feel are honestly trying to graduate in four years. If this policy does hold any merit, then why can it not contain a grandfather clause of some sort?

Finally, in my reflections the only reason I could determine as to why the policy has been passed is that the state needs more money for higher education. However, if this is the case could they not go about it in a more effective fashion? Should Utah continue with such abrasive legislation, I think they will only end up hurting themselves more than they help.

Bryan Whitchurch