design: Brooke Farren
The global pandemic has affected aspects of everyday life for many people worldwide, but one major influence, is the way people approach education. It has prompted many colleges and universities to shift towards remote learning in order to prevent the spread, yet tuition remains the same. But does signing in to zoom classes really justify the high price tag?
Colleges and universities can not justify the unreasonable cost of tuition during Covid-19. It is necessary for them to lower the price of college tuition because the services they are offering do not measure up to the students’ expectations.
There are many college students who are outraged with the decision to go with remote instruction. Many dissatisfied students have brought with them a series of lawsuits and protests to express their discontent with the universities.
Students from top colleges such as Harvard, Brown University, Georgetown University, and more have all expressed their disapproval to how college responded with the issue regarding tuition. This has led them to file lawsuits against these well-known universities, according to VOA News.
The experience a college student would get in person is drastically different compared to online. On campus, students are allowed to use the different facilities that each college offers, as well as make connections with different professors.
The experience is not the same due to the fact that in an in-person lecture, students are able to interact with their peers, according to Ohio State University freshman Amishi Singh. It is important for a student to make connections in college that will be beneficial for their career choice.
Students pay tens of thousands of dollars to gain access to facilities that will provide them with hands-on experience related to their career. These experiences are more important for students in certain majors such as science.
Science majors have at least one class that requires them to use a lab. But due to the Covid restrictions, many students only meet three times a semester, according to Ohio State University freshman Nandu Purayil.
Although colleges such as The Ohio State University have limited the use of their facilities, they are still including the full price in their student fees.
It is extremely unfair for students to pay full price for limited use of student facilities. The amount of time a student would use one of the facilities is excessively lower than normal, yet the cost remains unchanged.
The shift from in-person lectures to online learning can also hinder a person’s ability to understand the material discussed in class. Many students feel as though they have to teach the materials to themselves.
Many students are frustrated wondering why they have to teach themselves college level material, according to Purayil.
Social interaction between students and professors is also a big part of the college experience. Collaborative learning can clear up any misconceptions about a unit, as well as make the class more enjoyable.
Zoom meetings are not sufficient enough for students to understand college-level material. It is very important for a student to be able to interact with their peers, as well as their professor.
It is ridiculous that students have to pay such a high tuition cost for a lower quality education.
Although few colleges and universities have already begun to reduce the cost of tuition, most have kept the cost relatively the same or increased them. For instance, The Ohio State University has increased their housing rates, according to Purayil.
Overall, colleges can not justify the decision to keep tuition costs exceptionally high. The high tuition cost doesn’t resemble the aspects of remote learning at a college level.
