With August just weeks away, many of us are preparing for the upcoming school year by taking a look at our finances and scrolling through that dreaded tuition and fee bill posted to Banner each semester.
In comparing the Spring and Fall 2012 semester bills, it is clear students will be paying a great deal more in order to attend the University this semester. This, in part, is due to an increase in tuition under the Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas Act.
  The GRAD Act, passed in 2010, was created to generate money for universities below the southern regional average. Because Nicholls met specific performance goals outlined by the state, a 10 percent tuition increase can now be made.
  This tuition increase method is not new to the University. A measure from 2008 increased tuition by 5 percent and the GRAD Act increased tuition by 10 percent in 2011.
  Under the GRAD Act, students enrolling in the Fall 2012 semester will see an additional $237 tacked on to tuition. In addition, students will pay $10 more in registration fees and a reinstated energy surcharge of $84.
  A student activities fee and student assessed rec center operational fee were also added, totaling $174. The student activities fee, voted on in March, will provide additional funding for SGA, SPA, The Nicholls Worth, KNSU, SEALS, Cheerleading, Mosaic, Band, Athletics, and Veterans Services.
Although this is a big hit to students’ bank accounts, we must consider this before complaining: increases must be made in order to compensate for budget cuts and the two new fees added to our bills were voted on by the student body.
  Without increases in tuition the University could not continue to create the high quality educational environment so many of us take for granted each day as we head to class.
  We must also realize that these new fees were self-inflicted. Whether it was due to grossly under advertised details of the student activities fee, general indifference toward the fee, or belief that fees allotted to certain organizations deserve to be increased, the students voted on the increase, therefore, we have no right to complain.
  Tuition increases due to the GRAD Act are necessary with budget cuts, however student assessed students are voted on by the student body. Therefore, students should take a stance and be more involved in voting processes so that unwanted fees aren’t added to our bill every year.