| OCR Text |
Show how many potential students have let uncertainty stop them in their tracks. They are actively choosing inactivity and putting-off their educational goals rather than pursuing them expressly, either out of fear or necessity. I believe the more educated any given community is, the more promising a future there is for that community, and other communities as well. Who wouldn’t want a more well-educated community in Ogden? WSU—as a higher education entity—is also a pillar of the community. WSU is a central leader of thought and influence that extends far beyond the school itself. If WSU is ready to take in roughly 8,000 students this fall, it should be done safely or not reopened at all. What if, to help incentivize would-be, potential students, the school decided to not raise tuition again this year? What if, in the midst of all the bustling preparation to reopen its doors this fall, WSU mustered the strength to restructure the rates of tuition? Or, at least, begin more serious consideration regarding students’ financial health? What if WSU went as far as to lower their tuition by a certain percentage, invested additional resources into marketing a positive message that incentivized the community—especially during “these uncertain times” – while so many are so hesitant and, frankly, scared: everyone has their own opinions, however, there are families that will not hug each other. That’s almost unfathomable in a pre-pandemic life. With the role that WSU holds in our community, I can imagine WSU being a much more positive force, pushing themselves even harder than initially imaginable, just as they encourage us students to do each semester. When the community is at a weak point, using WSU’s power and influence as an opinion leader and the community’s center for higher education to get the community jumpstarted, will help breathe new inspiration into the community and get more people moving in a positive direction. Why not set the standard and educate by example? It’s already happening by providing a safe open for fall semester 2020. Now is a great time to help build our community’s character, define what it means to be a part of the Wildcat Family—even if that’s achieved by giving up a little more now, pushing project timelines back re-structuring long-term goals in the face of a global emergency—and grant support, incentives and promote positive action to a disheartened community. Perhaps staffing would be a problem for the school. Maybe there would not be enough room, yet I really can’t imagine those types of short-term issues not being resolved with an influx of students, and more staff means more jobs provided. A more educated community today, and, yes, even during pandemics, leads to a healthier and more capable community tomorrow. Otherwise, what’s the point of earning a degree? So, in the long-run, let’s say maybe the carbon neutral goal is put off by a few years. In the meantime, there’s an influx of students that will, eventually pay back both in a capitalistic sense as well as a communal sense. More students, taking in less money initially, will turn into more money in the future. The more educated the community is the brighter chance it will have at a progressive future. It seems like a win-win, especially for an institution like WSU. Set the standard, raise the bar, show additional compassion for students’ financial health and incentivize would-be students. Further consideration of not raising tuition and perhaps even lowering it cannot hurt that bad. I urge you to pursue that financial health aspect, especially in the face of all the other safety measures that have been implemented. Lastly, I’d like to thank the WSU family for all the hard work. I am also appreciative of the care and efforts made for this as-safe-as-possible return for students during this stressful fall semester of 2020. Comment on this story at signpost.mywebermedia.com MyWeberMedia.com| August 24, 2020 | 19 TUITION $ got you $ down? Find a job at the VIRTUAL STUDENT JOB FAIR Sept. 2 | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet with employers virtually about student job positions for the school year and sign up for one-on-one session with the employer through Handshake. Register for event: Login to Handshake. Click on the Events link. Click on Virtual Student Job Fair 2020 and then register for the event in the upper right hand corner. Career Services weber.edu/careerservices |
