Racial and economic diversity is an honorable and essential goal, but making students pay more money to achieve it will not make it happen.

According to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, that’s exactly what UW-La Crosse students may soon have to do if the state approves a new plan.

Under La Crosse’s new Growth and Access Agenda, approved by the UW-System Board of Regents in August, the university would raise tuition by a total of $1,320 over three years, generating $15 million. The extra money would be used to fund more student services and add 100 new teaching positions. The university would also enroll 1,000 more students, half of them minorities. One-quarter of the money would fund scholarships and aid for minority students.

Raising tuition is not an effective way to increase diversity, even while adding scholarships for minorities. The plan will only end up pricing more low-income students out of the System.

Adding scholarships for minorities is just not enough, especially along with a tuition increase. The problem of being unable to afford college runs too deep to be solved by offering a little extra money. Plus, the initial “sticker shock” will drive away some people before they consider the new aid for which they qualify. And what about students already enrolled, struggling to pay tuition as it is? In the end, increasing tuition will only make the university more exclusive.

To really do something about diversity, the System needs state support. According to the article, neither Gov. Jim Doyle nor his challenger in the upcoming election, Republican candidate Mark Green, approve of this plan. It’s hard to blame them. The plan seems to include too many smaller goals and $15 million is a lot of money to invest in something that may not work.

Ultimately, the System will have to do something drastic to fight the loss of low-income and minority students. But making students pay for diversity is not going to solve the problem.