⁍ Many colleges and universities, including Columbia College, have refused to reduce tuition.

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⁍ The sky-rocketing cost of post-secondary education is a perennial issue in the United States.

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⁍ Dozens of students filed lawsuits asking courts to force schools to issue refunds.

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– When Columbia College in Chicago decided to move some of its classes online this summer because of the H1N1 virus, students weren’t happy. “We want our tuition to reflect the way our education is being experienced now,” 21-year-old Isaiah Moore tells Reuters. “This is the time we need more unprecedented solutions to unprecedented problems.” Moore is one of a growing number of students pushing for their schools to cut tuition and fees because of reduced in-person classroom time and less access to on-campus resources. Many colleges and universities, including Columbia College, have refused to reduce tuition, saying salary and maintenance costs have held steady, regardless of whether the institution is offering in-person or online classes or a hybrid model. “For all three instructional methods, the college will be delivering all expected learning outcomes for courses and credit towards graduation,” Columbia College said in a statement. It said it was providing a ‘well-rounded and rigorous fall semester.’ Even so, Northwestern University, where fall tuition was slashed by 10%, has failed to satisfy 175 students who have signed a letter threatening a tuition strike beginning Oct. 1. In the letter, to be sent to the school’s president, the students demand officials reverse a 3.5% tuition hike implemented in June before the 10% cut was made, as well as further reduce tuition by at least 30%. “Withholding tuition en masse is quite a large move, but we believe it is warranted given the level of crisis,” said one of the organizers.