This is the exact text, except where noted, of an e-mail I just sent.  It may be helpful to read the lower half first.  Basically, as far as I can tell, WOU is trying to cheat their students in a whole new way (just my opinion; you be the judge).

Dear [name deleted],

I’m confused about something.

I don’t go to WOU any more, but my cousin does and I’m thinking about trying to get my sister to consider it.  Since the decision of whether to opt in or opt out is, as the admissions web site states (but the e-mail below does not), irrevocable, I find it interesting that students are being advised to make such a decision based on very little information.

I have two questions, and I’ve guessed at an answer for each.

1) If the Western Tuition Promise is not all that beneficial, why is it featured prominently on the admissions web site?  To convince students to bring their tuition dollars to WOU without offering them anything significant, maybe.

2) Who benefits from students opting out of the program?  The university, by getting better access to their wallets, perhaps.

Thanks for your time.

–Avrila Klaus (class of ‘06)

—– Original Message —–

From: [name deleted]

To: students@wou.edu

Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2007 9:42 AM

Subject: [All Students] Western Tuition Promise Information Meeting

To all undergraduate students:

 

When you register for fall 2007 courses you will be asked to decide if you wish to participate in the Western Tuition Promise.  This is an important decision.  The university recommends that students who will graduate from WOU before fall 2011 not join the Promise since it is likely that they will not receive significant economic benefit (i.e. lower tuition overall) from the program.

 

An information session will be offered to students on May 10 from 12-1 in the Columbia Room of the

Werner University Center.

 

Only undergraduate students who are

Oregon residents and students participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program are eligible to participate in the Western Tuition Promise.

[name deleted]

Dean of Admission, Enrollment Management, and Retention

Western Oregon University

345 N. Monmouth Avenue

Monmouth, OR 97361

[phone number deleted]

fax: [fax number deleted]

[e-mail address deleted]

---

_______________________________________________
Students mailing list
Students@wou.edu
http://cougar.wou.edu/mailman/listinfo/students

Apparently this is spammity spam spam from Spamalot.  Grr.