Per the release of an announcement through "K-State Today," (Link to announcement - https://www.k-state.edu/today/announcement/?id=66380) Kansas State University has outlined the tuition and fees for the fall semester. Under the "Fees" section of the announcement, Kansas State has decided to charge an ADDITIONAL $70 PER CREDIT HOUR for online courses (you may have already noticed these charges in KSIS). This added charge also applies to courses that were originally meant to be taught IN-PERSON and have transitioned to distance education.

While many students understand the necessity to transition courses to an online format, it is absurd that Kansas State University is attempting to benefit financially from the move. Most students signed up for these courses anticipating them being taught in-person, NOT online. Why should students be forced to pay additional fees for a format they did not originally agree to? Furthermore, many students are facing financial hardships due to either internships being cancelled, businesses being closed, and/or caring for family members. The student body is not in any way prepared to incur these additional, unnecessary costs. Lastly, these fees serve no meaningful purpose. If facilities are not being utilized, and professors are instructing over Zoom (a software that KSU has already licensed), where are these fees going?

This decision only further emphasizes the constant hypocrisy of the actions by leaders of the University. I have heard, time and time again, that Kansas State University is meant to be the "affordable" option for those seeking higher education in Kansas. These fees directly contradict that notion and have only further enraged the student body.

I am personally calling on President Richard Myers to explain how this is fair to the student population in the midst of a pandemic.

We, as students of Kansas State University, are formally requesting that additional fees for courses originally meant to be in-person are removed.