Why Your Uni Asks for (More) Money | 5 min read

Would you like to donate to your university?

Yeah, with all the leftover money I’ve got.

At least, that was my initial reaction, and who could blame me? Thousands of dollars in debt, the traumatic memory of…FAFSA *shivers* every year, and the complications of loan repayment plans (which we’re getting too soon, don’t worry!) still sting. Those wounds are recent, and for some, ongoing. “Y’all know I’m in debt to you, so why keep asking for more?!” may be a common thought. So let’s ask: Why does your university ask you for money?

We reached out to Kutztown University to speak with their Assistant Director of Annual Giving, Keegan Meyers. Myers, a Shikellamy High School grad like myself, studied marketing at Bloomsburg University and describes his current position as a ‘jack of all trades’.

I primarily am in charge of the Foundation’s Phonathon (call center) operations, and am the direct manager over roughly 25 students.

Keegan Myers, Asst. Director of Annual Giving

This certainly puts a face to what is usually an unseen caller or email lost in the shuffle. Turns out that isn’t the only thing he does. Myers also:

• Manages all of the university’s athletic corporate partner accounts.
• Runs all university crowdfunding operations in conjunction with the Director of Annual Giving.
• Coordinates the class gift at the university.
• Implements and runs a Student Philanthropy Council.

……so not just asking for money. Still, that was the primary question, why do colleges ask students for money?

I would say that one of the largest misconceptions people have about university education is that the only purpose is to make the university more money than they already have. Honestly, there are so many expenses from a university standpoint, such as emergent student need, that need so much more additional support than alumni and others may realize.

This caught my attention. Maybe if we knew where the money was going, we’d be more willing to part with ours? While typically ’emergent’ would presumably refer to ’emerging’, as in, emerging trends and necessities a student body would create, I was more interested in another interpretation: ’emergent’ as ’emergency’.

It’s no shock COVID-19 dominates the news currently, and how higher education responds is a huge question. Still, while the world ponders and talks options, some students remain on campus (six feet apart, of course).

We spoke with Susquehanna University’s Rebecca Jay, a student currently on campus during the pandemic.

The one nice thing is that there is a food pantry that the Chaplain set up and we are allowed to use stuff from there. It’s great but only when I get a chance to leave and go over there.

Rebecca Jay, Susquehanna University Class of 2021

Still, COVID-19 is unprecedented, and the national reaction has varied. Rebecca went on to describe how her administration is responding to the number of concerns present for their students, and how they can improve in the coming weeks.

Administration wouldn’t refund my meal plan so I could use it for groceries. I hardly ate for 3 weeks before I moved to 18th[a campus residence] because I couldn’t go to Benny’s[on-campus dining] being immunosuppressed and was worried….on top of that, Benny’s is only open from 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Saturday, and CLOSED on Sundays. So if we didn’t have anything to eat, Sundays we wouldn’t eat.

For Rebecca, Susquehanna doubles as both her school and temporary home, providing her with a place to safely stay and food to keep her healthy. While not perfect, she appreciates SU for what they’re doing, and won’t hesitate to voice her critiques along with her thanks. It keeps them honest for sure.

So maybe I was a bit harsh on the fundraising department. Obviously funding can be used for emergency situations like right now, and countless other events throughout the school year are only possible with their aid. But I couldn’t have been the only one, right?

Yeah, it’s definitely happened and happens regularly. One of the most notable times it’s happened to me before is when prospects won’t give [money] because the university or college has a “political agenda” that doesn’t align within their own personal beliefs.

Keegan Myers

Huh. Little more nuanced than one might think. In that case, I talked with Myers about the reasons regular folks should actually donate to their universities.

Reasons to donate to your university

• Funding goes toward operations budget AKA ‘keeping the lights on’, general function and day-to-day affairs.
• Cycle continues to future classes, or ‘pay it forward’, since the amenities that helped attract you to the campus in the first place didn’t show up overnight.
• ‘Every dollar helps’, since, as Meyers points out, often universities don’t ask for a specific amount. If you can only give a dollar, and everyone in your class does so, that does add up over time. No one expects people to drop any amount with more than four zeroes on the end of it.

In fairness, this article is titled “Why Your Uni Asks For (More) Money”, and intends to break down both sides of the argument. There are a few reasons to question the process, though. The Washington Examiner found some interesting results here about why people are hesitant.

Reasons to question donating

• An unclear process leads to confusion over where money is going and how it is being used. For more info, ask the tax-paying members of your family how they feel about where their money goes. Similar hang ups can be applied for donations.
• Wondering if your college really needs it, though I imagine this thought process is more relatable at top-tier Ivy League universities. It goes hand-in-hand with “maaaaybe they do could use it, but aren’t there other charities that need it more?” It’s a fair point of discussion.
• I’m drowning in debt, and if I can barely afford rent, insurance, car, and phone bills along with student loan payments, how is it expected I can shell out more for this? For some, it might not be a choice, but an inability to give out that extra dollar. I know there are times I pass by the donation boxes by Wal-Mart, and feel a certain way when I can’t put something in every time I pass by.

Talking about money is difficult. At the very least, it’s not fun, and talking about student loan repayment is just bringing up the ever-present elephant in the room for most college students. So when your well-meaning university rep, maybe a smiling and professional administrator like Myers, maybe not, it’s not uncommon to at first balk at the question for money. But hearing stories like Rebecca’s, where donations are utilized for emergent student needs, I’m more compelled to give back to my campus. Knowing that at least some small part goes to those in need during times like now is enough to edge me a little closer to giving back some green.

We’re really curious about this one; how do YOU feel about your university asking you for money? What additional reasons in favor of or opposing college donations should be included?

As always, if you find us interesting and informative, please like and share with a fellow scared-out-of-their-mind college kid just hoping to make their payments!