2. Outline
I. PSU Student Rally Against Tuition Hikes
II. College Tuition increase
-at PSU
-across the whole nation
III. College debt
-PSU students
-college students across the whole nation
IV. Students' reactions toward skyrocketing tuitions and debt
V. Quality of college education: what students are receiving
VI. Potential social problems
-college drop out rate
-minority group youths
-job market
VII. What needs to be done
VIII. What I think...
2
5. PSU Student Rally
What was going on?
On Feb. 21st 2012
About 400 students and instructors from
Portland State University, Portland Community
College and Mounthood Community College
Held rally in the PSU Park Blocks
The main purpose of the rally was to protest
against the continuous increases of Oregon
college tuitions and the sharp decline in state
funding for higher education
5
6. PSU Student Rally
Photo above
By: Motoya Nakamura, The Oregonian
Photo on the left 6
By: Yu Han
7. PSU Student Rally
● On the previous page, the picture in the upper right corner is a sketch of
the PSU PEP Rally.
● Students are holding placards saying "Education is a right", "The voice of
students: Lower Tuition!" etc.
● Most students have a serious look on their face, and they are shouting
slogans.
● Students of different age groups and race groups paticipated in the rally.
The picture shows that a lot of students do care a lot about tuition fee
increase of their colleges. They are worried, and so they stand out to let
legislators hear their voices.
• On the previous page, the picture in the lower left corner shows things that
I received from the organizor of the PEP Rally: ASPSU, prior to the rally.
• There were a leaflet, a tri-fold brochure, a badge and a bookmark, and all
these included information about the rally.
The preparation work by ASPSU shows that the PSU student government
was trying to get students' attention about the rising tuition and unite the 7
power of students to fight against the increase.
9. PSU Student Rally
●Associated Students of PSU (ASPSU), which is the student
government of PSU, as well as the organizer of the PEP Rally, made
this tri-fold brochure.
●The student government has spent about one month for all the
preparation work of the rally. They wanted to gather the power of as
many students as possible, so as to draw attention of Oregon
Legislature, and let the Legislature stop the fund cutting of Oregon
University System.
●Rally speakers noted that the current generation of students has had to
take on more debt than their predecessors because of rising tuition and
declining financial aid resources.
●They also pointed out that Oregon spends more on prisons than on
higher education.
9
10. Conclusion:
●Students cannot stand anymore with the tuition increase, and they
chose to stand out and fight against the tuition hikes.
●The rhetoric of this rally was focused on keeping tuition low and higher
education accessible in Oregon.
●How much has tuition increased in the past few years then?
10
12. PSU Tuition Fee Hikes
"At a meeting of the State Board of Higher Education on
Jan. 6, 2012, a near 9 percent increase in tuition for the
full 2012–13 academic year was approved for Portland
State. Included in this hike is a 9 percent increase in
tuition for the upcoming 2012 summer session as well"
(PSU Vanguard).
What triggered the PSU Rally?
Here we go!
The 9% jump has made most of the students feeling
frustrated.
12
13. PSU Tuition Increase from 2008 to 2011
Graph 1:
Just How Much Has My Tuition
Increased Since 2008?
Source:
Portland Spectator
Volume 9 /Issue 6/ April 2011, Page 3
13
14. PSU Tuition Increase
● This is a graph from Porland Spectator showing PSU tuition
increases from 2008 to 2012 for both in-state and out-of-state
students.
● For an in-state student who takes 15 credits every term, during the
past 4 academic years, resident tuition went from $4,905 (2008
academic year) a term, to $5,321 (2009) a term, to $5,648 (2010) a
term, to now $6,185 a term. Compared to the tuition in 2008, students
now need to pay an additional $1,100 every term.
● PSU resident tuition has increased by appoximately 26% in the past
4 years.
● For an out-of-state student who takes 15 credits every term, during
the past 4 academic years, tuition went from $17,595 (2008 academic
year) a term, to now $21,369 (2011) a term. Compared to the tuition in
2008, students now need to pay an additional $3,800 every term.
● PSU out-of state tuition has increased by approximately 21% in the
past 4 years. 14
15. Tuition Increase of
Oregon Colleges
Graph 2:
Money for Universities:
State general fund spending;
Annual Tuition and fees
Source:
Oregon University System
DAN AGUAYO
The Oregonian
15
16. Tuition Increase of Oregon Colleges
●The upper part of the graph shows that since 2007, the Oregon State
general fund spending for post-secondary education has been declining.
During the 2011 to 2013 period, the funding is only about 669 million
dollars, which is close to the lowest status of the past decade.
●The lower part of the graph shows that the average tuition and fees for
ful-time students of Oregon University System have been increasing
since 2001. In addition, compared to the tuition and fees in 2001, those
in 2012 are twice as much.
●In the 2012 academic year, state funding has reached its lowest
point while the average tuitions and fees have hit their highest
record.
●There is a trend that the state funding will keep going down in the
coming several years while tuition and fees will continue on growing.
16
17. Tuition Increase across the Whole Nation
Graph 3:
College Tuition CPI
Vs. U.S. Home Prices
Vs. CPI
Source:
BLS Census
(1978-2010)
17
18. Tuition Increase across the Whole Nation
● This is a graph showing the tuition increase across the whole nation.
● The graph is expressed in a percentage scale.
● The Consumer Price Index (CPI) was about 380% in 2010
compared to what it was in 1978.
● Home prices were about 400% in 2010 compared to what they were
in 1978.
● College Tuition CPI, however, was about 1050% in 2010 compared
to what it was in 1978! (a ten-fold increase!)
● Among the three indexes, the increase of college tuition CPI has
outbeaten the other two. The growth of college tuition CPI was steady,
and since 2002, the growth has become really fast.
18
19. Conclusion:
●From the previous graphs, we can see tuition hikes
‒ at PSU,
‒ in Oregon,
‒ and across the whole nation.
‒ In general, college tuitions are skyrocketing!
●How do students pay for their tuitions then?
●Can students still afford their tuition?
19
20. III. College Debt
-PSU students
-college students across the whole nation
20
21. College Debt
What do college students need to pay for?
•Tuitions;
•Books and stationary;
•Housing;
•Food;
•Clothing;
•Insurance;
•Entertainment;
•Other things.
How do most college students pay for school?
•Student loans;
•Working;
•Grants and scholarships;
•Parents;
•Other methods.
Among these methods, a combination of working to pay tuitions
along with getting student loans is the most common method. 21
22. College Debt- PSU Students
PSU
In Oregon, what is percentage of students
that graduate with debt?
How much do students owe on average?
Graph 4:
How does Portland State Stack Up?
Percent of students who graduated with debt
in 2009.
Source:
Peterson's Undergraduate Financial
Aid and Undergraduate Databases
22
23. College Debt- PSU Students
● According to the Peterson's Undergraduate Financial Aid
and Undergraduate Databases, about 58% of students from
Portland State University graduated with debt in 2009.
● The amount that PSU students owe on average was
$22,440.
● Suppose a student payback $500 each month, then he or
she needs about five years to payback all his(her) original
tuition and the interests.
23
24. College Debt-
Students across the Whole Nation
Video 1: Laura has $20,000 of College Loans Debt
24
Credit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Vjmcnx53wM&feature=related
25. College Debt-
Students across the Whole Nation
●Laura is a representative of most college students.
●Students work hard to pay for their tuitions. However,
the minimal wage that they get just barely enables
them to pay for their housing and food expenses.
●By the time students graduate, most of them carry
about $20,000 to $25,000 in debt.
●Though Laura is a senior student, she doesn't look
happy. She looks rather worried.
●However, she is still willing to payback all her loans
and debt.
26. Conclusion:
●Most college students pay for school by loans.
●By the time they graduate, the first thing they are
to deal with is the $20,000 to $30,000 debt.
●What are students' reactions toward
skyrocketing college tuitions and loans?
28. Students' Reactions toward Skyrocketing
College Tuitions and College Debt
Video 2:
YouSpeak: Student Loan Debt- Students from Boston University
Credit: 28
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
29. Students' Reactions toward Skyrocketing
College Tuitions and College Debt
●According to these interviews of Boston University students,
college debt is a BIG concern of them. Some of them even
describe it as their number one struggle. As soon as they get out
of school, they will need to deal with this nightmare.
●A lot of students cannot afford to go to colleges or graduate
schools due to the high tuitions.
●The pressure of paying off loans is affecting students' choices
about their jobs and careers.
●Students are complaining that getting a degree does not help
them to get better jobs or earn more money. They are getting the
same amount of money that high school graduates are getting.
The only difference is that they have a huge amount of loans and
debt to pay off.
30. Students' Reactions toward Skyrocketing
College Tuitions and College Debt
●Students are saying that they need a good higher
education to better themselves and better the world.
●Students think that currently, the government and the
Legislature haven't done enough to provide students
with a good opportunity to enjoy an affordable and
high quality higher education.
●Students are looking for more help from the
government with their higher education.
30
31. Students' Reactions toward Skyrocketing
College Tuitions and College Debt
Video 3: Student Loan Debt Crisis
Credit: 31
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sbBTyxNOMc&feature=related
32. Students' Reactions toward Skyrocketing
College Tuitions and College Debt
●According to the video, combined student loan
debt is now about 1 trillion dollars, and the average
is hitting about $24,000 per student.
●Student loan debt is even larger than the credit
card debt of this country.
●Because of the big concerns of college tuitions and
debt, students are doubting the value of higher
education.
●Some students even have extreme opinions
toward college education. They think colleges are
just robbing their money.
33. Students' Reactions toward Skyrocketing
College Tuitions and College Debt
●This is an article from Portland
Spectator.
●The title of the article is "Say No to
Debt- Why I Refuse to Pay Back My
Student Loans".
●The author is graduating at the end of
the coming spring term with a bachelor's
in English.
●However, in order to afford repayment
on his student loans, he has to work in a
cafeteria or restaurant, which are "dead-
end jobs" as he describes.
●He decides not to pay back his student
loans to Sallie Mae because he thinks
poor students deserve the money more.
34.
35. Conclusion:
●Most students feel frustrated, worried and helpless
about their high college tuition and huge loan debt.
They are under a great pressure.
●Students feel that the government and the
Legislature are not doing enough to let more people
enjoy higher education. They are expressing their
unsatisfaction and are calling for help from the
government.
●What are the effects that high college tuitions
and loan debt have on college students?
●What are some potential social problems that
might be caused by high college tuitions?
36. V. Potential Social Problems
Caused by High College Tuitions
-college debt crisis
-other debt
-college drop out rate
-minority group youths
-job market
36
37. Potential Social Problems Caused by
High College Tuitions and Loan Debt
(1) College Debt Crisis
‒ As mentioned ealier, student loan debt is hitting 1
trillion dollars, and it is now even larger than the credit
card debt of the country.
‒ If students cannot afford paying back their loan debt or
if they quit their repayment, the economy of the whole
nation might be potentially affected. Another financial
crisis may take place.
‒ Even if only a small portion (e.g. 10%) of the students
fail to pay back the loans, the influence can be huge: 100
billion dollars may be lost.
37
38. Potential Social Problems Caused by
High College Tuitions and Loan Debt
(2) Other Debt
‒ According to Experian analysis for USA Today of credit records of 3
million twentysomethings, while paying off student loans, credit card
payments and house bill payments of these young adults are more
likely to be late.
-These late payments can harm the credit scores of these young
people.
-In addition, agian, these late payments of credit card bills and house
bills can have negative effects on the economy of the whole nation.
38
39. Potential Social Problems Caused by
High College Tuitions and Loan Debt
(3) College Drop-out Rate
‒ As college tuition is getting higher and higher, fewer and fewer
will be able to afford the higher education. Some young adults will
never have the chance to enjoy higher education. After
graduating from high schools, they may directly go and find a job.
Others who struggle to pay their tuition may end up with dropping
from their colleges.
40. Potential Social Problems Caused by
High College Tuitions and Loan Debt
(4) Minority group youths
‒ Minority group youths might be those who are under the highest
risks of dropping out from colleges.
‒Especially for those students whose parents are first generation
immigrants, they are very likely to drop out from college due to the
lack of financial support and psychological encouragement.
41. Potential Social Problems Caused by
High College Tuitions and Loan Debt
(5) Job Market
‒ As students' are not able to finish their college and get a degree
due to the high college tuitions, their options for employment are
more or less restricted. They’re not able to follow their dreams as
much as follow the paycheck.
‒Our society needs those people who have gone through higher
education to be doctors and other health care professionals,
scientists, engineers, police officers, professors and instructor, etc. If
fewer people in the society can get higher education, the productivity
and the creativity of the whole nation will decrease a lot.
42. Conclusion:
●High college tuition and loan debt not only have a great
impact on young individuals, but can also leave huge
negative effects to the whole society either directly or
indirectly.
●College tuition is skyrocketing. However, is the quality
of education skyrocketing, too?
43. VI. Quality of College Education
: What Students are Receiving
43
44. Quality of College Education:
What are Students Receiving?
In addition to the rising tuitions, another big concern is about the
quality of education. Are we getting better education as we pay
more?
-Perhaps not.
●According to an article in the New York Times called "Your So-
called Education, college education is getting poorer because
"The authority of educators has diminished, and students are
increasingly thought of, by themselves and their colleges, as
“clients” or “consumers.” When 18-year-olds are emboldened to
see themselves in this manner, many look for ways to attain an
educational credential effortlessly and comfortably.
45. Quality of College Education:
What are Students Receiving?
●In addition, though students are paying more for their
tuition, due to fund cuttings by states, colleges are
increasing their class sizes, and hiring fewer full-time
faculties. As a result, students are having fewer
opportunities to get in contact with their instructors, and
many of them are struggling in class.
46. Conclusion:
●Students are paying more their tuition, but it
seems that they are not receiving better
education.
●Is it still worth going to college then?
48. Why do we need to go to
college? is increasing sharply, is it still worth going to college
College tuition
then?
-Definitely yes.
Why?
●First of all, there is still a correlation between higher levels of education
and higher earnings.
Source:
U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics
49. ●According to the graph from the previous page, the higher
degree people get, the lower rate the unemployment is, and
the higher wage people get.
●Thus, even though there might be exceptions, this general
trend is not changing much. Higher education will you pay you
off one day.
50. ●Second, higher levels of education correspond to lower levels
of unemployment and poverty.
●Third, college graduates have more positive perceptions of
personal health and health care.
●Fourth, higher levels of education are correlated with higher
levels of civic participation, including volunteer work, voting, and
blood donation.
●Fifth, higher levels of education helps to increase the
productivity and creativity of the whole society.
●Sixth, higher levels of education enables individuals to have
more career-related knowledge and a broader horizon.
51. Conclusion:
●College education is important to both individuals
and the whole society.
●Both individuals and the society should make efforts
to let more people access affordable good-quality
higher education.
●What should be done to reach this goal then?
53. What I Think...
●I am a senior at PSU.
●By the time I graduate (in the coming spring term), I will have about
$24,000 student loan to pay off.
●I know college is important or actually essential, and it can offer me
some life-long benefits.
●However, I do think that PSU tuition is going up too fast right now.
●Compared to when I just got into PSU in 2008, tuition has
increased more than a quater.
●If tuition keeps increasing, students will be under greater financial
pressure and fewer students will have the opportunity to enjoy the
benefits of higher education.
●It is time for the government and the Legislature to do something
and help college students with their education.
54. What I Think...
●It is hard to say how government can increase fundings for
colleges. As we all know, it's not a good idea to increase taxes
or decrease medical insurance fundings. However, what about
military fundings? Is the government putting a little too much
emphasis on this part? Is it possible to decrease some
expenses there?
●If not able to putting more funding in, at least, states should
not pulling any more money out. Or,the college education
system will break out one day.
55. What I Think...
●For those students who are still in college, my comments are:
● get good use of the source of school!
●So go to classes, get in touch with professors, ask them
questions, and learn as much as you can.
●Make friends, see your advisors, and make sure that when
you need help, either finally or emotionally, you have someone
to rely on.
●Use all the useful source in school: you should go to the
library, go to the career center, tutoring center, go to the gym,
attend clubs and other activities.
●You are paying to receive higher education, so make sure that
when you graduate, you can walk out with something.