Fairfield University boasts its ability to foster ethical and social responsibility among its students.
Thus, the fact that the University’s department of Financial Aid threw ethics to the wind in a recent loan-lending dispute is an utter contridiction to much of what the University stands for, not to mention its overall credibility.
Late this summer, it was reported that Fairfield, as well as two other Connecticut colleges, had an agreement with The College Board, Inc. to make the company one of its preferred loan providers in return for thousands of dollars in software discounts.
This “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” mentality is not only unlawful in this instance, but it blatantly neglected student interests.
With tuition around $33,000 per year, Fairfield has no right to cast aside the needs of students and their families. If College Board, Inc. is truly the best lender, then our interests are being served. If not, we are unknowingly plunging deeper into debt at the expense of a University who is simply looking for the easy way out.
Though the University admits to no wrongdoing, it agreed to follow a financial aid code of conduct to prevent similar scandals in the future.
It will also donate $28,000 to its financial aid program as a minor slap on the wrist for misconduct. Colleges nationwide are being investigated for similar practices, but why is Fairfield one of them?
As an institution that emphasizes the importance of cultivating the whole person, Fairfield should have joined the ranks of those who knew how to keep their hands out of the cookie jar.
Even more disheartening is how educational institutions are increasingly showing themselves to be profit-making businesses.
In the business world, we commonly witness company officials disregard the needs of their employees – the people on whom they depend. We can only hope that this trend will not infiltrate our school, the community that exists for students’ benefit alone.
With all of the behavioral penalties imposed on students, it seems fitting that the University should be reprimanded for stepping out of line as well.
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