The $10 graduation application increase from $15 to $25 that will go into effect next semester has many students asking why.

Senior Matt Renfro, who is graduating next semester, doesn’t agree with the increase.

“It sucks. I don’t understand why they need to raise the fee with a massive freshman class coming in next year. It seems like they’re just trying to milk us for everything we’ve got,” Renfro said.

Sophomore Bob Akens thinks it should have been covered with the enrollment increase and tuition increase.

“I think they should have no reason to increase graduation fees since they increased tuition,” Akens said.

Julia Abell, director of Planning and Institutional Studies, said that commencement has not received any additional funds from the tuition increase, and that a graduation fee increase was inevitable.

“The graduation fee of $15 has been in place since 1978,” Abell said. “An increase in the graduation fee will help the Commencement Office run out of the red, and will improve the ceremony as a whole.

“One of the things we’ll be able to do now with the increase is eventually get more prominent speakers. We can afford more skirting around the stage, new banners, college banners, floor matting. This will also cover the cost of paying band members, the new video screen we purchased for the ceremony, the copies of the graduation tapes we give to all of the graduates. The increased fee allows us to build up the ceremony.”

The graduation application deadline for the spring semester is January 27.