Editorial

Want college to pay for any classes you have to take after four years?

Ohio State University students are proposing just that, and the administration is looking into it, though it might be a while before the plan is implemented - if it is at all.

Under the proposed plan, if students are forced to stay longer than four years, OSU has to pick up the tab for those classes. But there is one catch: The university has to be at fault for keeping the students from graduating. The university potentially could be blamed in a delay of graduation for poor advising and closed courses.

As freshmen, students would have the opportunity to sign a contract with the university that would ensure them reimbursement for a valid reason if students cannot graduate. Other universities, such as Indiana University and University of Iowa who have implemented this type of program five years ago, have never had to pay a student's tuition. And Iowa did report an increase in students who graduated in four years.

The contractual agreement between students and the university is beneficial to both parties. Students would be ensured they would graduate in four years. And if they didn't, at least they wouldn't have to pay for it.

Another incentive for colleges to graduate students in four years is the Ohio Board of Regents' Success Challenge. For every in-state student who began college in 1995 and graduated in 1999, the university receives about $1,500.

And for every at-risk student who graduates, the state will pay $3,500. At-risk students are defined as those who receive Ohio Instructional Grants, which go to undergraduate students from low- to moderate-income families.

While the university bears the burden of graduating students in four years, the agreement shows a willingness to cooperate and be flexible. And to help ensure they would not have to pay for students taking additional classes, the university needs to figure out which courses need to be expanded in size and in frequency.

Opening up more class sections would not only help those students who signed the contract, but it also would help all students by allowing them more opportunities to take the necessary course for graduation.

But it is not all the university's responsibility. Students have to map out the classes they plan to take each quarter and plan ahead. This requirement is beneficial for students who might not know exactly what they want to study.

It almost is a necessity for students to know what area they want to study in order to sign the contract. It is not fair for the university to have to pay for extra classes taken by someone who didn't choose a major early or decided to change majors after a few years.

However, some leeway needs to be allowed to give freshmen the opportunity to make a decision. It is possible for a student to change majors within the first year and graduate on time. Cases in which students changed majors or were undecided need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure everyone is getting a fair deal.

Although it is not a free ride for students to take courses beyond their four-year program, the contractual program is an insurance that their four-year program will stay on track.