Progress and Poverty

Harvard prides itself on setting a standard for the country's other educational institutions, but it seems that a small Midwestern college has come up with an idea that the University might well consider. Next fall, St. Olaf College of Northfield, Minn., will institute a four-year guaranteed cost plan insuring students that their tuition fee will not be increased at any time during their college careers. All raises in fees and tuition will be effective only with the incoming freshman class.

Clearly a rigid student-college contract like St. Olaf's would not be feasible here; freshman would justifiably protest paying for part of upperclass-men's education, and the Administration would have difficulty making ends meet without the added income from present students.

Some variations on the St. Olaf theme, however, would indicate that the College is concerned with helping parents and students budget the four-year haul. One Administration official dismissed the idea as "unfeasible" because, he said, the College can not forsee tuition rises at all. University economists maintain, however, that they can estimate fairly accurately when and how much tuition must rise to meet advancing costs.

Now thousands of students and parents are asked not only to plan a four-year budget in view of present tuition rates and unforeseeable inflation, but also somehow to predict tuition and room and board increases that University officials say cannot be predicted.

The University, without working its way into a financial corner, could guarantee at least that tuition raises would be effective no sooner than one year from announcement.

Admissions acceptances to prospective freshmen could include a fairly close estimate of what tuition and extra costs will be for four years. This would be a guide, not a strict guarantee. Currently admissions acceptances mention nothing about present tuition nor the possibility that charges may go up.

Making tuition increases effective with the incoming freshman class would raise too much havoc with new students, admissions officers, and the University's financial planners. No one likes increases in tuition and room and board; they are painful for deans to announce and even more seriously difficult for students to manage. Nevertheless although a formal guarantee is not practical, a little foresight and some concern for parents and students with tight budgets would be a welcome step in the right direction.