Spring Break
Questions about $40 graduation fee left unanswered
Katie White and Katelyn Pratt, kewhite@smu.edu, kpratt@smu.edu
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
Justin Montgomery graduated from SMU in December 2006 with a degree in accounting, and had to pay $40 for his diploma. He is scheduled to graduate in May with a master's degree in accounting. Once again, he will have to pay $40 to SMU for his diploma. Montgomery believes the graduation fees in addition to his self-paid tuition are unnecessary ways SMU makes a little extra cash.
"They are trapping us at the very end. We get nothing to show for our time at SMU unless we shell out another $40," said Montgomery, who will start a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the fall.
Montgomery is not alone. SMU began charging students a $40 graduation fee per school in December 2006. Students are frustrated that they are charged more money when tuition is already high and that SMU officials will not explain for what the money is used.
"That's a lot of money to get out of this school considering we have to pay a lot to go here," said Lauren Early, a junior psychology and education major who does not look forward to paying the fee.
According to the SMU registrar's office, 1,095 undergraduate students graduated in 2007. At $40 per student, the graduation fee generated a minimum of $43,800 in revenues for SMU.
Officials in the registrar's office, which is in charge of the graduation process, declined an interview to discuss the graduation fee. Students who have dealt with the registrar's office in the past have unanswered questions.
"I understand that it's not necessarily their [the registrars office] decision. It's an overall SMU decision," said Patty Blount, a senior psychology and statistics major. "But they still need to be up front with you and tell you where your money is going especially if you're asking and are interested in finding out more about your school."
Over the past five years, the SMU Board of Trustees has increased the cost of tuition and fees by 35 percent, and the board will increase tuition again in 2008-2009 by 7.4 percent. The average 2008 graduate from SMU will have paid $111,748 in tuition and fees.
"They are trapping us at the very end. We get nothing to show for our time at SMU unless we shell out another $40," said Montgomery, who will start a job with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the fall.
Montgomery is not alone. SMU began charging students a $40 graduation fee per school in December 2006. Students are frustrated that they are charged more money when tuition is already high and that SMU officials will not explain for what the money is used.
"That's a lot of money to get out of this school considering we have to pay a lot to go here," said Lauren Early, a junior psychology and education major who does not look forward to paying the fee.
According to the SMU registrar's office, 1,095 undergraduate students graduated in 2007. At $40 per student, the graduation fee generated a minimum of $43,800 in revenues for SMU.
Officials in the registrar's office, which is in charge of the graduation process, declined an interview to discuss the graduation fee. Students who have dealt with the registrar's office in the past have unanswered questions.
"I understand that it's not necessarily their [the registrars office] decision. It's an overall SMU decision," said Patty Blount, a senior psychology and statistics major. "But they still need to be up front with you and tell you where your money is going especially if you're asking and are interested in finding out more about your school."
Over the past five years, the SMU Board of Trustees has increased the cost of tuition and fees by 35 percent, and the board will increase tuition again in 2008-2009 by 7.4 percent. The average 2008 graduate from SMU will have paid $111,748 in tuition and fees.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Betina Matoni
posted 5/21/08 @ 10:11 AM CST
This fee took me by surprise as well and I find SMU's unwillingness to inform us about this fee prior to receiving it insolent.
I'm pissed, but what can we do? I for one can't afford a hold on my diploma. (Continued…)
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