Erin Blasinski
Managing Editor
It is rare to see the words “tuition” and “free” in the same sentence, but some time next semester, students may be observing a day when all expenses are covered by non-tuition funding.
We all know that tuition for attending Milligan during the 2003-2004 school year costs $14,750, but according to Vice President for Institutional Advancement Todd Norris, that amount doesn’t cover a student’s entire year of expenses.
“The assumption people would make is that the college is funded by tuition income, and it is, but there is a significant portion that it doesn’t cover,” Norris said.
The day will recognize when, in the academic year, tuition money no longer contributes to running Milligan College.
Tuition free day would be recognized some time in late January or early February, around the time when tuition revenue no longer covers the college’s expenses.
“This is not something we have ever done before, and I want it to be something that will be meaningful for students,” Norris said.
Norris said he would like to have alumni speak to students in a convocation either by a video or in person to “bring an alumni perspectives to students and share briefly why they support Milligan and why they feel it is important.”
Norris believes it is important to convey the level of partnership that alumni and friends of the college contribute to the Milligan. Students are not alone on their journey through education because people they don’t even know are standing with them along the way.
Norris said it is important for students to know that going to Milligan and being a part of the Milligan community is a lifetime association.
“I have talked with many alumni and they very much want to convey to students what it means to be an alum and how that relationship extends beyond graduation,” Norris said.