The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Opinions

Money matters

The Board of Regents will vote Tuesday on another special fee for next year.

At least we - more or less - knew it was coming this time.

Tuesday, Chancellor Errol Davis will recommend to the Board of Regents that all students in the University System of Georgia be hit with another special fee. This time around, the vote will cover both next fall and spring semesters.

However, don't be surprised if the Regents as a whole decide to increase the fee to as much as $250.

As cliché as it may sound, "times are tough." And with budget cuts increasing and proposed faculty furloughs, students should expect to have to contribute to the University in ways other than tuition and the usual fees.

We're not pleased, though, that the BOR is once again bypassing a policy that requires student fee increases to be approved by a special committee of 50 percent students.

We also think students should have been officially informed of such a vote earlier than the Friday afternoon before the meeting. Sure, we got more than 24 hours' notice (unlike last semester), but giving the news on a Friday afternoon right before business hours end doesn't exactly invite much feedback.

And let's not forget the "Fixed for Four" situation. The policy, which guarantees students the same tuition for four years of college, likely will be suspended in the coming days. How will this affect students already in college? Is HOPE going to cover the difference?

Sure, we feel a little bad for complaining about tuition when the University's is already low, but these questions need answers - and students deserve a little more transparency when it comes to money matters that directly affect them.

- Shannon Otto for the editorial board

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