Clarion University will celebrate Tuition Freedom Day Feb. 7-9 by giving students the opportunity to thank the donors whose contributions keep their tuition costs down.
A table will be set up in James Gemmell Student Complex, where students can write thank-you notes to donors. The first 100 students to write a note will receive a Tuition Freedom Day T-shirt.
Tuition Freedom Day represents the last day of the academic year that the students “pay” for their education. Until that point, their education is covered by the tuition that they or their parents pay. After that, philanthropic donations and state funding support the students’ education.
“The purpose of Tuition Freedom Day is to create awareness within the student body of the necessity of the university’s fundraising endeavors, said Holly Pipher, annual fund officer for Clarion University Foundation, Inc. “Without outside funding, the tuition for many students would dramatically increase. We hope to educate students about the importance of giving back to the university and how they directly benefit from the generosity of others.”