Jim Edwards
At a time when we had just heard a radio program about long-time student loan debts - even life-long, as one individual described it - it was refreshing to report the news about tuition at Southern Arkansas University.
The news is that the SAU Board of Trustees, with a nudge from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, is not increasing tuition for full-time in-state undergraduate students.
Comparing what that saves students here in one academic year to the overall burden of debt due to student loans is, of course, comparing an apple to an orchard full of oranges.
But it is good to know that our SAU administration recognizes the challenge it is for university students to pay for a university education, even with help from the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery.
While the tuition was frozen, it was necessary to increase academic excellence, computer technology, and public safety fees. But with no jump it tuition, it holds the increased cost for students to a $165 difference compared to this year.
We salute SAU - and the governor - for taking such a step to hold down costs for university students instead of considering annual tuition increases as just a usual way of doing business.