Reduce Babson College Tuition and Other Costs for the Academic Year 2020-21

Reduce Babson College Tuition and Other Costs for the Academic Year 2020-21

Started
17 August 2020
Petition to
Babson College
Petition Closed
This petition had 2 supporters

Why this petition matters

Started by Sanskriti Chandak

Babson College is raising undergraduate tuition by more than $1500 and other costs* by over $950 than for the academic year 2020-21, despite the ongoing unprecedented social, economic and public health crisis. Additionally, Federal Work-Study offered to students as part of their financial aid packages through student employment is extremely limited for all students.

Classes are only one part of the Babson experience. The resources Babson offers to its students outside the classroom are equally integral. Trying to replace it by providing students with more online services is not nearly the same as having in-person access. Just because the same material is being made available in a selective, restricted in-person or online manner does not mean that the overall experiences is equivalent to the cost of an in-person education. Many students have a difficult time learning remotely. Furthermore, constantly switching between in-person and remote learning presents its own set of challenges and thus, students do not reap the usual benefits. So why are we still being asked to pay more in tuition and fees?

Here, the need for transparency on tuition and other costs arises. The breakdown of which should be available and accessible to all students. Babson prides itself in the values of trusted and moral leadership it teaches its students. Thus, its responsibility to model the values we want to see in the world cannot be compromised in this time of need. It is the college’s responsibility in this moment to be a leader for its students and to put their well being ahead of its own budgetary interests.

The costs of keeping the campus open and safe this fall is understandable, but it is clear that Babson is not committing itself to its students if it places this burden on the shoulder of its students. Instead, Babson should be using its own “ET&A™” to seek alternative sources of revenue and cost-reducing procedures including endowments, and the “record high” alumni donation of over $91 MILLION. Many of which donated to support athletics, arts and affinity groups which are some of the most valuable experiences that are being compromised in the coming semester. With varsity and club sports being cancelled and practice rooms and studios being closed for the fall, a majority of the events that do take place will most likely be online therefore requiring a college budget of nearly $0. And it goes without saying that, the experience of any in-person events that do take place will be inaccessible for students studying remotely. In addition to this, Babson also has an Emergency Fund that was established in the first few days of the pandemic to help students. As of late June, more than $310,000 has been donated to the fund. So how is it possible that Babson finds the need to raise tuition and other cost for the academic year 2020-21 when the full experience is not guaranteed?

The effort put forth so far by Babson College is commendable in this time of social, economic, and public health uncertainty and unrest. Especially keeping the campus and dorms open for the students who need it. But, the true value of education comes from how much we are capable of learning from it. The current decision to raise tuition and other costs is not reflective of a college dedicated to promoting inclusivity or nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs. There is nothing more important than coming together as One Babson in this time of need. This is precisely why Babson should strongly reconsider the cost of attendance for all undergraduates, for the goodwill of its students and because it is the right thing to do. Sign the petition to help our call for change.

*other costs include room, meal plan, books and supplies and personal expenses

Key action points:

-       We call on Babson College to reduce tuition and other costs (reductions to be applied to expected student/parental contribution) for the upcoming academic year 2020-21 and offer alternatives for the loss of work-study/on-campus job opportunities

-       Transparency in the breakdown of tuition and other costs

 

Petition Closed

This petition had 2 supporters

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Decision Makers

  • Babson College