Back some 6 years ago or so, the University of Minnesota wanted to cash in on the untapped ‘Adult Learner’ market. Remember ‘University College’?

“Hey adults, come get a degree in your spare time! Take night/weekend/internet classes to fit your busy schedule!”

Now, some six years later, the University of MN is up in arms because it’s  ‘taking too long for students to graduate.’ Huh?

And now, they have implemented a ‘minimal credit payment.’ Students pay for a full credit load no matter how many classes they take!

That’s a great deal for kids right out of high school, still living with their parents who flip the bill for 13 credits while their kid takes 20. But it completely screws over working adults taking the odd evening courses, trying to sneak in a class or two when they aren’t working 60 hours per week. Now if they want to take three credits they have to pay for 13? As if the tuition hikes over the past two years weren’t bad enough!

This is surprising for a University where the word “diversity” is implanted into every speech and publication, until it is overused into meaninglessness. It doesn’t seem very diverse to me, to impede the ability of adults with jobs and families to take classes and get a degree in their free time.

I would expect more intelligent decisions from a group of people running a learning institution.

My suggestion to the University of MN is to either discontinue your use of the word “diversity”, or bring back the University College, without the mandatory minimum credit bullshit, and time limits for graduation. Return some fairness to the system for people who did not just step out of high school. What’s the harm if it takes them ten years to graduate?

Sincerely,
-CZ

Posted in Open Letter, Ubersuck