Lab Fees and Sticker Shock

"The consumables used in some programs have become much more expensive over the years since we last set lab fees."

"Because the rest of the world doesn't care that our public funding is flat or declining. Materials cost what they cost."

"If we did that, we'd basically be forcing the business and liberal arts majors to subsidize the welding and nursing majors even more than they do now."

"Donors typically don't like to cover ongoing operational costs. They see those as costs of doing business."

Lab fees are proposed to increase significantly due to rising costs of consumables. Students may need to pay for multiple lab classes in a semester. Financial aid can cover these fees as part of the total cost of attendance. The increase is attributed to flat or declining public funding, and there is a concern about subsidizing certain majors over others. Philanthropy is unlikely to cover ongoing operational costs, and tightening budgets has been ongoing for years. Alternative solutions require different political choices.

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