![]() Posted here at the request of Ms. Goodin Dear GVSU Board of Trustees, My name is Brea Goodin and I am currently a Senior at Grand Valley State University. During these four years, I have proudly considered myself a Laker. As stated in the Laker Effect Campaign, “Lakers are driven by our passion for learning and using that knowledge for the common good. We make a difference by focusing on others and making lasting contributions.” I have chosen to make a lasting contribution by pursuing elementary education and mathematics; as teaching is to touch a life forever. As I am eager to continue my passion for learning, I am also deeply disappointed and hurt by your choice to raise our tuition by 3%. Throughout my four years, I have spent $57,761.27 on tuition that has contributed to the success of both myself and GVSU. I have maintained a 3.74 GPA while volunteering in classrooms throughout Kent County, proudly representing GVSU. In addition, I just received the Michigan Council of Mathematics scholarship that will recognize GVSU in helping me become a successful educator. However, my pride for GVSU has been challenged, along with feeling betrayed because of this tuition increase. GVSU, please help me understand why you would do this to me and the rest of your fellow Lakers. As former students, do you think that we have not gone through enough this year? Raising tuition during a worldwide pandemic and crisis is absolutely shocking and makes me feel that you are taking advantage of GVSU students. In your mission statement, you state that you desire to “help shape student’s lives,” yet when the whole world is struggling and suffering, you chose to give students more of a barrier to continue learning. Since at least 1995, you have raised our tuition each year. If everyone’s tuition increased, can I assume that all Lakers will benefit? If not; GVSU you will be picking winners and losers. A system like that could award a not so conscientious student at the expense of a hard-working conscientious student. Please explain what is fair or intelligent about that? You state that you have increased financial aid and that students with financial need will see a reduction of cost. What about us Lakers that do not qualify for financial need? I have never received any financial aid to reduce my college tuition costs. I have only received federal loans that I will have to pay back. GVSU, please help me understand where my money will go during this tuition increase? As our nation continues to work on finding a way to come together and make choices that are in the best interest of all people, I hope you too, GVSU, will consider how to best help your students succeed. We are living in a worldwide crisis and I hope you support your Lakers in place of increasing our barrier to education and ultimately affecting our future. With an open mind, I would like to understand the need for this tuition increase. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time. Brea Goodin
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Letter to the Editor PolicyNear North Now welcomes original letters from readers on current topics of general interest. Simply fill out the form below. Letters submissions are limited to 300 words. Archives
February 2025
Categories |