Tuition, SAT hikes are only half-baked ideas

Among the Vertical Cuts Committee's recommendations to cut the University of Hawaii's budget was a proposal to raise the median SAT to meet other schools' standards, and raise the out-of-state tuition rate.

By raising the out-of-state tuition at this stage in the Asian financial crisis, we would only decrease the number of foreign students at UH.

And in light of the fact the difference in tuition rates between in=state and out-of-state is already huge, a further increase would almost certainly result in lower enrollment.

The proposal to raise the median SAT score is also a poor way to improve UH's situation. Since it would require raising the minimum GPA for admission, UH would be slamming the door on some local students who may not have had the same educational opportunities as others.

And since our Mainland students usually come from states with stronger educational systems (hence higher GPAs), the risk of "brain drain" is greater than with locals.

More care should be given by the faculty committees before such measures are even recommended, especially where access to education is concerned.