Higher Education in Arizona

I work full-time with family and employment responsibilities. Also, I come from an impoverished family which did not place a value on academic achievement which leaves me a late developer.

Because of my responsibilities and at this late stage in life, going back to school fulltime is not possible. However, I have been able to take advantage of the 2 year Associate Degree (60+ credits) distance ed. program at Rio Salado Community College in Tempe.

I am now enrolled in the 'Distance Ed.' Baculerate Degree program at the 'University of Waterloo' (Ontario, Canada-they took most of my Rio Salado credits).

Of course, I would prefer to complete a 4 year degree by distance ed. in this state; Rio Salado's success (Charter Oak, Capella etc.) proves it can be done.

With the demographics of this state, my own experience and it’s scattered but growing population, I believe there is a need for a Government sponsored post 2 year degree distance ed. program, re-organize Rio Salado into this entity.

A region the size of Maricopa County should have more than on mega bloated ASU style academic institution; one that is specialized in the liberal arts, not in the glorification of being able to drop back and punt from the 40 yard line and of course, competition is good.

It would be more beneficial to the public good to create such a school here that could meet the needs of all Arizonans and some day may be expanded to meet the needs of people outside Arizona (the extra revenue from this would be welcome).

It really irks me to hear in the news, a few weeks ago, about the salary of the President of ASU...if I remember right it is around $625,000. a year! Now tuition will go up AGAIN and we, the students and families of ASU, should all pitch in with the extra tuition costs so that families who make less than $25,000. a year can go to college for free, while we lower-middle class continue to struggle to be able to pay for our own students to get through college. This is a completely empty offer that was made to rationalize the increased tuition while attempting to look good in the public's eyes. Why doesn't "THE PRESIDENT" pitch in a bit of his earnings and keep the tuition the same for a few years, or personally help out those few 'under $25,000.' income families that will take advantage of this offer.
My family has 2 kids in college right now and another coming up...the state universities have raised the tuition every year since our oldest started college, at UA, 3 1/2 years ago!
(On another subject...what about that mandatory food plan, at ASU, for freshman living on campus? We are forced to pay $950. (which is the minimum amount) per semester for our 107 lb. daughter to eat...if she ate to get "our" money's worth she'd not only gain the freshman fifteen (lbs) but would easily add an additional 50!! At the end of this semester, ASU will keep about $175. of our money, for mandatory meals unused. Multiply that times the number of freshman living in the dorms!!That's just one student!! Anybody hungry? Come on! Meet us at the MU...it's our treat!

Again and again the board of regents along with the University presidents state that their tuition is among the lowest of public institutions and that to stay competitive among the lowest 1/3 they have to raise their rates... This is not an acceptable reason to raise tuition rates. If you can provide a good education cheaper than the other guys than kudos, but to simply raise our rates because the other guys are doing it is ridiculous. Further, the expansion into distance learning via the internet can not be considered quality education. As a student of two online classes, it cannot compare to being in a classroom and having direct contact with an instructor.

I'm amazed at the justifications spouted to support a rate increase of 50% over 5 years. If this were a corporation, this management would be terminated. If you were students, you'd get failing grades. There's simply no excuse for rate increases consistently outpacing every other sector of private or public business.