OPINION: Student Government Key To Reducing Higher Ed's Cost

("Money - Savings" by 401(K) - 2012 via Flickr)

I praised Chairman of The University of Texas Board of Regents Kevin Eltife this month for working to reduce higher education’s costs on Texas students. Under his chairmanship, UT System established new sources of financial aid and won additional state funds for universities' operation. These measures meant institutions were less likely to rely on a tuition increase. This deserves praise. 

However, with ongoing student complaints about higher education's cost, higher education's price tag still remains a problem. Now what remains is for student government to accept responsibility to advocate for cost-reducing measures at the local level. 

Here are five areas it can target to bring financial relief to students carrying the cost of college. 

1. Tuition Set-asides. These represent what now Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick called a “secret tax” on students. Set-asides require students to pay roughly 10 percent above their actual cost of tuition to fund the pot of university financial aid to low-income students. Students effectively pay 10 percent more so the university can redistribute their money to their classmates. SGA ought to pass a position statement on set-asides and seek their reduction, if not total abolition.

2. Mandatory Student Fees. Most students do not know where their fee money goes nor how authorities use it. In this scenario, longstanding programs such as the student counseling center and the Student Affairs office take on a life of their own and continually expand. Student government should evaluate student fees and ensure that they are both valuable services and those that reflect student priorities.

3. End Athletics' Triple Charge. Student government must advocate for the end of the university's triple-charge on students for the athletics program. Students pay for athletics in the mandatory athletics fee, the mandatory student services fee and in designated tuition. This is costly and unethical. In the long term, student advocates should abolish the athletics program as an unnecessary cost driver to education. In the short term, advocates must seek to end the unnecessary additional charges. 

4. Emphasize Cost Savings. Student government should make clear its expectation of responsible stewardship by celebrating administrators who cut costs and realize savings. This helps create a culture of good financial stewardship that reduces financial burdens on students. Hopefully, student government’s praise will incentivize more favorable activity and reduce the financial burden on students. Robert Cromley's savings on parking permit distribution is a good start.

5. Praise Regents, Legislature. Student government ought formally praise The UT System Board of Regents and The 88th Texas Legislature for their collective actions to award financial aid and state appropriations which relieve students. SGA ought to use its microphone to communicate student priorities and to reward constructive action in the hope of inspiring more of it. Incentive leaders to act with praise. Make it public. 

These steps student government can take to alleviate students' cost of college at the university level.

State leaders have responded to concerns about students' higher education costs. Now it is time for student leaders to continue to advocate for students' interests on the local level. These are the ways they can do it.

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Feature Image: "Money - Savings" by 401(K) - 2012 via Flickr

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