Dear Editor,

I appreciate The Appalachian writing a story about the tuition and fees that impacts everyone and so far this year staying away from the stereotypical marijuana story and other “feel good” stories that are published annually. 

Despite this, I have numerous problems with both The Appalachian’s fact-finding as well as the accountability that is held to the Student Government. As stated in the article, there was a proposal put forth of a 4.75 percent increase in campus-based tuition. This is higher than the increase proposed last year, of 3.4 percent, that The Appalachian complained was not going to the correct sources.

As a former Treasurer of the Student Government, the tuition increase approved last year went to not only financial aid and faculty salary equity as mandated by previous state legislation, but also to increase the library to 24 hours, five days per week. None of this is new news but was a stipulation in the Tuition increase that occurred last year. Included in the increase that occurred from last year to this year, funding was provided for library faculty positions as well as Learning Assistance Program advisors. This apparently has not been something the current administration has dealt with, nor did proper research to address these concerns.  Despite the current need of these positions, the reason the funding was not in place for this semester was due to the State Legislature holding off on enacting these charges for this semester. 

Doing the proper research would have been able to be accomplished if the committees began when they were set forth to in legislation passed last year. Senate bill 042-007, which was introduced February 2009, set forth that both the Tuition and Fee committee appointments would be set forth the second week in September and the first meeting of hearing proposals would be no later than the third week of September, with biweekly meetings after the initial meeting.  Despite this legislation that was signed by the Student Body President last year, enacted by the Office of Student Development and presented to the Board of Trustees, none of the stipulations were achieved. 

The Tuition committee had their first meeting in mid October, not beginning to hear proposals until the end of October/beginning of November. The article pointed out that fees will be announced at a forum on November 17. The legislation also stated that the final recommendation for both Tuition and Fees be by the first Thursday of the month of November, which should have been November 5, 2009. 

This administration has not been an outside voice that represents the change and “needs” of students that they campaigned on in the spring, but similar to all the past administrations that they claim have “failed the students.”  I hope further accountability into the actions, or lack thereof is brought about by not former Treasurers, but by other students impacted by all decisions made. 
__________________________
Philip Schneider
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