I’m not an idealist. I don’t believe everyone in America has a “right” to attend college. In fact, I’ve written many times before that college isn’t right for everyone. That said, I’m starting to get a little bothered by the inconsistent messages that my state’s legislators are sending to students, especially at my alma mater, the University of Tennessee. The state of Tennessee, like many other states, is going to increase tuition at public colleges across the board. Some as high as 7%. The University of Tennessee has deemed it necessary to up tuition 3% to 6% at its system of universities in the wake of Governor Bill Haslam’s $19.3 million budget cut for education. All these funding cuts come while only one in four 8th graders in the state are proficient in math or reading…yes, that’s actually true. ONE in FOUR.
http://blog.uloop.com/2012/06/tuition-tennessee-colleges-purpose/
