➤The proposal would further increase student debt, since J-term courses would not be eligible for financial aid.

➤The proposal would force students to decide whether to take J-term and pay higher tuition, delay their graduation, or transfer to another college or university.

➤The proposal to charge for J-term would make the College less appealing to prospective students than it was in the past. This would decrease enrollment, which would further increase the College’s debt.

Taken together, these factors might cause J-term to disappear altogether, which would defeat the purpose of the proposal to address the budget deficit. Budget decisions should take into consideration all members of the College community, in order to support the College’s commitment to “honest and open communication, and fairness and integrity in all that we do.”

Therefore, we, the undersigned, ask the following:

(1) That the Elmhurst College Board of Trustees reject the proposal to charge students for J-term tuition and housing; and (2) That students and faculty be fully involved in future decisions to raise revenue and/or cut the budget, in light of the College’s core values of integrity and social responsibility.

Respectfully, [your name will be added here]