Getting Involved:
State and Local Government
Participation Activity 1
:: Participation Activity 2
Participation Activity 2
If you attend a public college or university, much of the cost of your education comes from the state treasury. You, however, pay the rest through tuition and fees. A rational college student would likely want the state to both increase spending on higher education and cut tuition costs, thus increasing the benefit for the college student while having others pay for it.
1. What has been the trend in spending for higher education in your state over the last five years? Has it increased or decreased? By how much?
2. What is the current level of spending? Has the governor prepared a budget for the next fiscal year with proposed spending levels? What are they?
3. What has happened to tuition costs over the last five years? Up or down, and by how much?
4. What are current tuition costs? Will they likely rise or fall?
5. Write a letter stating your supported opinion on this issue. Send it to the governor and to your representatives in the state legislature. You can likely use either snail mail or e-mail.
6. What response did you get to your letter?
7. Do you feel you made a difference? Why or why not?
