The Growth and Access Agenda has been met with negative criticism by students irritated to hear of another tuition increase. However, according to its proponents, the plan has little to do with emptying students' pockets and more to do with improving the UW-La Crosse campus.
Previous UW-L Chancellor Doug Hastad launched talks concerning a new plan in the summer of 2005. The necessity of the plan derived from numerous issues, including the loss of 70 staff members and ongoing budget cuts. The strong demand for admittance to UW-L also contributed to the need for change.
"We were encouraged to think outside the box and we did," said Elizabeth Hitch, Interim Chancellor.
The result of ongoing discussions was the Growth and Access Agenda. The plan is misjudged by most as simply an approach to increase diversity on campus, but its supporters assure that diversity is just one of many features targeted in the agenda.
"Enhancing the basic quality for all students is first and foremost," said Interim Provost Ron Rada.
Diversity entered discussions due to UW-L's failure to match even the state of Wisconsin's level of diversity, which is low in comparison to other states. For UW-L students seeking job opportunities out of state, a lack of diversity on campus fails to prepare them for excelling in the workplace.
"We were hearing from employers that diversity experience is an important thing to have," said Hitch.
The Growth and Access Agenda is expected to yield a revenue totaling $15 million. Approximately $2.3 million will be utilized for student support staff, including the employment of additional recruiters. This recruiting staff will seek admissions from different target groups to further diversify UW-L's campus.
An increase of 1000 students will accompany the plan, but the benefits will not be limited to incoming students. Having more student support staff on hand will prove beneficial for the entire campus. Existing students will also gain lower class sizes, as $8 million of the revenue will be utilized to hire 100 new faculty members. Approximately $3.8 million will be used to enhance financial aid opportunities, with the remaining $1 million going toward supplies and services.
"We're talking about funding the quality of the educational experiences for all students," said Bill Colclough, Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance.
The plan will increase tuition beginning in the fall of 2008, but continuing students will not have to pay the increased cost. New students will pay $220 more per semester for three years, for a total increase of $1320.
Many students opposing the Growth and Access Agenda do not want the additional tuition money to be applied to financial aid benefiting other students. However, supporters of the agenda encourage opponents to examine their current tuition bill. All students are charged for the services of the Campus Child Center, even if a student does not use the facility. The purpose of directing the financial aid to other students, similar to the purpose of the Campus Child Center, is to improve the campus as a whole and increase access to the university, they say.
Even with the tuition increase, UW-L's tuition costs will remain lower than UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee. In addition, proponents point out that UW-L students are already fortunate to benefit from services other UW System schools do not provide, such as textbook rental.
UW-L's Growth and Access Agenda is unique in that it does not request any state money. UW-L administrators are not expecting state aid in the future, so the plan is crucial to helping UW-L remain self-reliant, they say.
The Board of Regents passed the Growth and Access Agenda at their August meeting, but the process of implementing the plan will remain static until after the gubernatorial election. Formal initiation of the agenda cannot occur until the new governor prepares his budget and the legislative process is complete. Proponents of the plan warn that students will have more to worry about than a tuition increase if the Growth and Access Agenda is not implemented. More students would be denied entry to UW-L, as Admissions has already received 200 more applications at this point than were received all of last year. They caution that continuing students would be unable to reap the benefits of an increase in staff and faculty members. Student support services and programs would also be endangered, they say.
Be the first to comment on this article!