A university proposes to significantly increase tuition fees, arguing that the additional revenue is essential to maintain its high academic standards and attract top faculty. A student group counters that the fee increase will severely limit access for low-income students, making the university less diverse. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively counter the student group's accessibility claim?
- AThe university's endowment has significantly grown in recent years, making it financially stable.
- BMany current low-income students at the university rely heavily on federal student loans, which are not affected by tuition increases.
- CThe university plans to allocate a substantial portion of the tuition increase specifically to expand financial aid and scholarships for low-income students.
- DA recent national report indicates that universities with higher tuition fees generally have better academic rankings.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The university plans to allocate a substantial portion of the tuition increase specifically to expand financial aid and scholarships for low-income students.
The student group claims the fee increase will limit access for low-income students. If a substantial portion of the increase is allocated to expand financial aid and scholarships specifically for low-income students, it directly addresses and counters their accessibility concern by making it clear that access for this group would be preserved or even improved.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. This challenges the university's justification for the fee increase, but does not directly counter the student group's claim about accessibility for low-income students.
- B. While federal loans are a factor, they may not cover the full increase, and the availability of *institutional* aid (which this option doesn't address) is often critical for low-income students. Option B is a stronger counter.
- D. This supports the university's general argument for higher fees and academic standards, but doesn't address the specific concern about low-income student access.
Countering an Accessibility Claim
To counter an accessibility claim means to introduce information that directly challenges the assertion that a proposed action will make something less available or harder to obtain for a specific group.
- Address the specific barrier to access identified.
- Provide evidence that the barrier will be mitigated or overcome.
- Show that access will be maintained or even improved for the affected group.
Memory trick: CHALLENGE: Consider How All Logical Links Are Not Genuinely Embedded.