Every year without fail, tuition is increased at virtually every college and university across the nation. The same scenario applies to tuition at USC.
While there are undoubtedly significant expenditures requiring a large pool of funds, a large business such as this university has plenty of room to be more efficient. While some tuition hikes are necessary, every measure should be taken to minimize tuition for students. There are several areas in which spending could be reduced.
I have attended USC for almost six years, and rather than noticing a decline in construction after a couple of years, construction picks up every year. First of all, any construction that hinders parking should be completed during the summer. Everyone wants nice grounds to look at and observe, but the never-ending carousel of construction and expenditure around campus is wasting money.
Some students would rather have affordable education than solar-powered trash cans that are placed in the shade and underneath trees on Greene Street. Building maintenance would be a more appropriate use of funds given the university’s recent fines for improper disposal of asbestos.
Another simple method to reduce overall education costs is to reign in the use of textbooks. In some classes, books are listed as required and then seldom used more than once or twice as a reference. A library take-back day would be nice, too. This would allow students who no longer need the course textbook to donate it to the library which in turn would have it available for the next student in need.
Cutting back on required materials in general would alleviate some students’ costs. Many classes require iClickers or some other electronic device that is often conveniently sold only at the Russell House.
The frequently and incorrectly assessed technology fee should also be done away with or at least reduced. Students in professional schools such as pharmacy spend their last year or so off campus on internships, yet they are assessed a technology fee for technology they are never on campus to take advantage of.
Finally, the past couple of football seasons have rendered much debate regarding how to distribute student tickets and on what basis. Since not all students are awarded a ticket to football games, it would be nice if students who do not desire to go would be able to opt out of the athletics fee.
Some students just want an education at USC. College is expensive, but in exchange for considerable loans assessed after graduation, students’ money should be spent much less frivolously.