The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-01-11
Nonresident Tuition Fees


the general proposition that non
resident student entering North
Dakota educational institution should
be required to pay tuition fee high
er than that charged to the resident
student, it does seem that the
schedule Of fees ordered effective July
l by the North Dakota board of ad-
ministration Is far out Of line with
fees charged by institutions In other
states, and virtually establishes a
barrier against entry.
The announced fee Of $500 for stu
dents from ether states entering the
North Dakota Agricultural college o.
the University of North Dakota, and
the fee of 5000 for those from other
states who may enroll at the several
teachers colleges and secondary
group OF higher educational instltu-
tons, is far above the schedule of fees
charged nonresident students by a
group Of neighboring state inStitu-
tons canvassed by this newspaper.
That schedule of fees ranges from
S25 year excess in the cases of IL
linos and Purdue universities, $50 IN
the case OF the University of Mime
sofa. to 5000 In the case of the Uni-
versity Of Wisconsin. All of them,
other than Wisconsin and Michigan.
TALL under 500 a year.
II 1t is the desire of the North pa-
kota board Of administration to aool-
ish entirely the practice of reciprocity
IN the work of education, then the
excessive fee schedule may be per-
mitted TO stand. But If, in the light
OF present enrolment conditions, lii
the light Of past experience, it is re-
garded as wise that North Dakota
should retain and continue the re-
ciprocal relationship that has existed
ever since this area was settled and
long before we had educational in
stitutions of our own worthy the des-
lgnatlon, certainly there should be A
drastic downward revision in the
contemplated program of penalizlng
the nonresident student.
Let us grant the fact that Noytl,
Dakota Is called upon to furnish ed
ucational facilities for groups of stu
dents from other states. But, while
we concede that point as established
by the records, let us not forget what
other states are doing for us.
The University Of Minnesota is i'll
point. q Geographic inquiry addressed
to that institution by The Fargo
Forum bringing the information that
291 North Dakota students are en-
rolled there this year. These North
Dakota students at the Minnesota
institution are being charged only
a nominal fee in addition to that lev
led upon resident students.
The Moorhead State Teachers COL
lege IS another apt illustration. At
the present time, OF a total enroll
ment Of 636 students, 124 are North
Dakotans. Minnesota makes no ex-
ira charge against the North Dakota
students. requiring of them only that
they agree to teach two years in Mini
nesota after graduation-if they can
get teaching position.
North Dakota, in these two in
stances. Is being relieved OF the cost
OF educating AS Of her own boys and
g1rE-and the work that Minnesota
Is doing in their behalf Is offset
through the educational advantages
we afford to her sons and daughters
In our institutions.
Illustrations similar to the Univer-
sity Of Minnesota and the Moorhead
Teachers college may be carried for
ward Indefinitely, and with results
that would further evidence the wide
advantages growing out Of reciprocity
IN education. Wisconsin university
Tor instance, has 81 North Dakota
students upon its rolls.
In the case OF the nonresident stu
dent who has enrolled in q North
Dakota institution. expecting to com
plete his work there, the imposition
OF the drastic fee increase would work
an untold hardship, an unfair handi-
cap. He came to our schools under
the schedule OF fees in effect at the
time he registered. To now say to
him. before he has had an oppor-
tunity to complete hts work, that he
cannot continue except upon the pay
ment Of high tuition, Is telling him
he isn't wanted: that we are done
With the policy Of reciprocatlon tina,
has heretofore opened virtually all Of
the schools Of the land to our boys
and our girls. and that he must sc
back from whence he came. And
should Minnesota, which educates se
many North Dakotans. decide upon
retaliatory measures and that is moi
at all unlikely-the educational ad.
vantages she has so freely held forth
to Us, viii be gone. Carried to 1t.
ultimate conclusion, the boy or CIR
Of North Dakota who cannot find IL
our schools the type Of work he O.
she may wish to take up. would bs
effectively barred except at prolnibl.
tive costs. II $500 for q nonresident,
student Is fair, and with no thought
Of diSparaging our own schools, Wis.
consin, Minnesota and other state.
unquestionably would raise agaills1
our youth q financial requirement
that would destroy for them any hcp<
or Possibility Of taking advantage Of
the opportunities they afford.