Universities pressure their students to graduate in four years because they are pressured to increase four-year graduation rates. (Transfer students, who did graduate in four years, did not count because they transferred.) One thing that I think universities – including USI – do not think think through is that they do not allow students back in their school if they owe tuition. It’s an endless, vicious cycle. 

I understand that USI is not a bank and cannot give loans or allowances to students, but I think having leniency should be a thought. Students who go to college want to get a job that allows a possibility of better pay (or at least I hope they do…).

So it doesn’t make since that, while on that journey, the school tells students they can’t come back a semester because they owe money. I’m not saying the students aren’t at fault, but I think universities should allow students who owe money one additional semester to try to find that money, as well as allowing them to continue their education.

I have heard from at least four people where this has happened. To hear them say, “I’ll just take a semester off,” kills me because we all hear the horribly low rates students who drop out for a semester and the chances of them returning. 

According to Education Sector, 23 percent of students who borrowed money from 1995 to 2001dropped out, while 29 percent of students who borrowed money from 2003 to 2009 dropped out.

Usually, the problem is financial aid in these situations. Last summer, USI took away financial aid during summer semesters – and gave little to no warning to students. Students who were trying to graduate on time by going to school during the summer now owe money to the unviersity and cannot continue because they are in debt. Loans only allow students to take out so much. I know it’s a risk for the unviersity to allow students a chance to pay off the debt by financial aid, but these students are trying to better themselves by getting additional education.

Give them the benefit of a doubt. Otherwise, you keep losing more four-year graduations.