Is the tuition discount an effective program?

In a UW-Eau Claire article, the UW System Board of Regents approved a 25 percent tuition discount for Eau Claire alumni who are able to graduate in four years or less.

This offer is available to all current and future Blugolds and applies up to five years after graduating. Alumni can come back and apply the discount to undergraduate classes. According to the article, the discount does not apply to internships, study abroad or undergraduate research.

“I think it’s nice for people who aren’t sure what they’re studying,” one member said. “After they graduate in four years, they have five years to decide if that’s really what they wanted.”

In the article, Student Body President Jake Wrasse said this is what students are looking for to continue their education, saying he knows “countless students who add another major or minor.”

However, Spectator Editorial Board members are uncertain of the number of students this will benefit, believing those who would come back to take advantage of the discount would not be eligible.

“If a student is uncertain of what they want to do in the first place, that student is highly unlikely to graduate in four years,” another member said.

Multiple members expressed concerns the article the university posted was misleading due to the article not being specific enough. Some said it would lead students to think it could apply to graduate classes or possibly a reimbursement for anyone who graduates in four years or less.

Other members have said it may get students to focus on graduating faster rather than taking advantage of opportunities at the university.

“Motivating students to graduate early isn’t as valuable long term for them because they’re not going to be focused on actually getting all that knowledge and getting all those experiences,” one member said.

Some members believe this discount would be impossible to receive for anyone who chose a major with a longer degree plan, like nursing or education.

A separate article posted by Eau Claire containing facts about the tuition discount said the discount may not be perfect for everyone, but is an opportunity for many to continue their education, improve their skill set and save money.