Critical Questions to Ask your Academic Institution

As we begin the important milestone in life of attending university, knowing what we are getting ourselves into is a crucial step in making sure we take advantage of our education to the fullest.

In order to be sure our investment in a college is worthwhile, advocating for oneself is crucial.  Addressing concerns with not only professors but with administrators or alumni as well  is a smart way to get a well rounded idea of a university experience

Playing a role in the growth of your education feels impossible when colleges are run by big and important people in complex systems, but college would mean nothing without the students that attend. Not only do students make up the reason for university to exist, they make up a large portion of people who are responsible for creating the future. This responsibility students take on should be rewarded with respect in the form of clarity from academic institutions. 

Universities have an ethical obligation to remain transparent with their staff and students. And it’s your average person’s job to make sure they do so. If not us, who?

So how can we be proactive in ensuring a quality education?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or make people feel uncomfortable when your goal is to find the answers you have a right to. Any student has a license to be curious in regards to how their time, energy, and money is being spent. 

Why pay a $300 non-refundable fee when applying for dorms? Where and how exactly is tuition money spent? Why charge students hundreds of dollars in fees just to have a spot to park their car while attending an hour long class, while requiring a permit, that costs an arm and a leg? What are the university’s values? Are professors and students treated fairly by their superiors? How diverse is the campus? What are majors that will lead me to a quality career? Knowing what to ask will help students determine if they can be proud of the academic institution they attend, or discover that it’s a place worth changing.

Schools are places that promise academic fulfillment as well as financial stability in exchange for four plus years and thousands of dollars. These promises are fine on paper, but to have them achieved in reality is not something that can truly be promised. A successful and worthwhile transaction can be achieved if students demand it. If we know there are errors in a place of study, we can sit around and accept them, or realize certain behaviors and practices are unacceptable, and then take steps to make change. When we ask questions, we exercise our right to advocate for our needs and what we know we deserve. 

Before you invest yourself and your money in an academic institution, remember that it is not a crime to rock the boat and question what is already in place — rather it's a radical effort in ensuring an experience one can learn from, and be proud of.