College Tuition: 5 Year Plan(+) = $$$

[mcs328]

http://wtop.com/?sid=304958&nid=316

University Cost-Savings Plan Would Require Online Classes
Updated: Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2004 - 6:31 AM

BALTIMORE (AP) - The state's public university students could be penalized financially for taking longer than four years to graduate and faculty would have to teach more courses under a cost-saving plan being recommended by top University System of Maryland officials.

The 16-point plan also calls for a review of the role of the University of Baltimore and three lesser-known institutions, which might lead to discussion of whether UB should be merged with another school.

The proposals could save $26.6 million next fiscal year. They are outlined in a report by a committee of the university system's Board of Regents, scheduled to be presented to the board Friday. A copy was obtained by The (Baltimore) Sun.

The recommendations include:

* Encouraging students to graduate faster by requiring them to take 12 credits through online courses, internships or other nontraditional classes and limiting most degree programs to 120 credits. If students take too many credits beyond 120 - in effect, if they take longer than four years to graduate - they will be subject to increased costs. One idea is to charge Maryland residents higher out-of-state tuition rates for credits above 132.

* Increasing faculty workload by 10 percent. Professors at most schools ought to teach at least seven or eight courses a year, the report says, but many now teach fewer than seven.

Using admission policies to steer more students to campuses that have unused facilities or room to grow such as Towson University, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

* Reviewing four institutions to make sure they are not duplicating efforts and are using resources well. Besides the University of Baltimore, the report calls for examining two research institutes - the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and the Center for Environmental Science - and the system's online school, the University of Maryland, University College.

The 11-campus system struggles with multiple problems. Its state funding has been flat over the past several years, and the regents have raised tuition by nearly 30 percent. At the same time, the schools are expecting 40,000 more students over the next decade and do not have enough space for all of them.

The proposals would need approval by the full board of regents, but Chancellor William E. Kirwan said he expects it.

"It's a challenging time," Kirwan said. "You have to play the hand you're dealt."
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Man that's a sucky way to do things. If you don't graduate on time according to their yardstick they'll charge you a higher rate. I'm sure there'll be exceptions to double majors and triple majors but how about all the undecided students. Bah...I'm surprised anyone can afford to go to college, get a job AND afford to pay rent or the mortage post-college.

I do support online classes as an option though. Save the few million bucks to build that new hall/wing. Save on the commute. Some classes however need to be taught face to faces. Oh internet access should be an equal viable alternative to on-campus and off-campus students.

[Jeffbx]

How stupid - what about people who have to work at the same time they go to school? Now they're going to charge these people more because they take more than 4 years to graduate?

Took me 5 years to get through a 4 year program because the last 2 years I only went to school every other semester, and worked full time on the off times.

If they're growing that fast and raising tution that much and STILL have a cash deficiet, they're doing something horribly wrong.

[InfiniteNothing]

What about majors that take longer than 4 years like civil engineering?

[ski]

Took me 5 years to get through a 4 year program because the last 2 years I only went to school every other semester, and worked full time on the off times.

You wouldn't have been charged extra, though. The article says it's for students who have taken 12 credits over the number of credits to graduate... so it's not a time constraint, it's a credit restraint.

[psycho-]

The plan seems reasonable. The reason is that for every dollar you spend, the school (taxpayers) has to spend another 4-10 dollars on you just to cover for that particular credit. this is particularly true in more world-class pulbic institutions (like UC, U-Michigan, etc) It makes sense that it's incentive to work harder and finish up school, lest you be a financial burden.

The funny thing is that most students don't know that they are such a financial burden. Most want their cake, and eat it too.

Of note, Germany has a f**ked up education system. My german coworker was complaining about how they don't charge students for the University system, therefore being short on resources. The students complain that they want a world class education system with more teachers, but don't want to be charged one penny for it.

[Jeffbx]

You wouldn't have been charged extra, though. The article says it's for students who have taken 12 credits over the number of credits to graduate... so it's not a time constraint, it's a credit restraint.

OK, that's not so bad... but anyone who decides to change their major halfway through a program is gonna be screwed.

[mcs328]

OK, that's not so bad... but anyone who decides to change their major halfway through a program is gonna be screwed.

I did this. I started as mechanical engineering and switched between my 2nd and 3rd year. Engineering required 135-142 credits depending on the type. I think you had to take 5-6 classes a semester to finish.

It would suck even more if you wanted to take a class just for the pure enjoyment of it and it wasn't a requirement or pre-req. No diversity at all b/c it would cost ya.

[bachviet]

It's very hard to graduate from a California public university in 4 years. There are too many students and not enough courses for freshmen and sophomores to take since they don't get the registration priority like juniors and seniors. There are some major courses that only are offered only once or twice a year.

[molecularfire]

If you plan your schedule right, it is not that hard at all to get through a California public university in 4 years. Did it in less myself. Just have to plan your schedule right (probably not as easy if you change majors... didn't do it myself so I don't know). Actually, I can't speak for all of the U.C.s but UCLA does have a cap on the number of units that you can take before you graduate (although I heard that they will bend those rules a little if you talk to the counselor).