Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks protest “impending” tuition increase
UAF sees protests for a second week in a row
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - On March 4, students at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) took to Signers Hall to protest increases to tuition in front of the school’s administrators.
As inflation impacts everyone and all organizations, discussions of raising tuition have begun once again at UAF. Some students voiced disapproval of such increases citing the struggles they face with finances with the current tuition rates.
The Associated Students of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (ASUAF), which represents undergraduate students at the university, organized a protest in response to what they say is a proposed 5% increase to tuition rates, which would take effect in the fall of 2025.
The protest which started at noon, began in the Wood Center and moved to Signers Hall where students shared their stories of struggle with each other and administrators that were willing to listen.
Among the various stories, topics of homelessness, being abandoned by family and struggling to find a well paying job were common. One student said “I had to sell my car to get [to UAF].” Others touched on their frustrations with current on campus housing and finding food. “$3500 for a tiny, two bedroom apartment that you’re expecting four people to live in is ridiculous,” said another student.
While the tuition increase is not an official proposal yet, discussions are starting now. Officially, an increase of 5% or any other figure simply doesn’t exist. But, students say that any increase is too much.
“Public university in the U.S. is not affordable, so we shouldn’t use that as a way to hike tuition,” said one of the protestors. “We should use that as a way to say we need to keep it that way, that’s what we’re saying, keep education as affordable as possible.”
Aware of those issues, Vice Chancellor Owen Guthrie said they have worked to alleviate those issues even as the university feels strain. “Our dining costs have gone up tremendously in the last three years as it has for every homeowner in town and yet we haven’t raised dining rates now in four years or so and we’ve been looking at that really carefully,” said Gutherie speaking to the nutritional difficulties faced by students. “We are operating at a loss there, but we are trying to keep those costs low for students.”
One thing the students and administrators have taken pride in, to an extent, is the reality of UAF having a lower tuition rate than competing schools in the lower 48. “UAF has never been more affordable, our student debt is going down,” said Guthrie.
Still, the last decades have seen large increases to tuition. Despite those increases Guthrie said first year enrollment has increased. Additionally, any new increases will be reviewed and submitted to UA President Pat Pitney before they go into effect.
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