We are a collective group of Brigham Young University (BYU) students, burdened by the persistent mental and financial challenges associated with the late fees imposed by the BYU Testing Center. Testing can create enough stress without having the added worry about the costliness of last-minute circumstances that can arise anytime in a student's life.

We believe it is contrary to the university's mission of creating a supportive learning environment. Such late fee policies resonate financially on students who may be juggling multiple tests across different classes while trying to balance their personal and work lives.

Our solution? We propose the elimination of these late penalties for delayed test-taking and instead introduce an "Early Bird" program that incentivizes students to take their exams earlier by offering a 5% bonus in test score. This new system not only spares students financial strain, but it also encourages better schedule planning, while also creating an incentive for the tests to be taken throughout the 3 day period of testing rather than all on the last day.

Changes in the testing center fee structure have shown success in other universities. According to The College Board, many universities have implemented options that provide students with more flexibility without imposing late fees, resulting in more satisfied and less stressed students (College Board, 2019). It's time for BYU to be a part of that innovative movement.

We call upon the BYU Testing Center and Administration to eliminate late fees and implement the proposed "Early Bird" incentive. Your support could make a critical difference for thousands of students seeking to realize their academic goals without unnecessary financial burdens. Please sign our petition today.