Penn State administrators are heading the right direction with a new initiative called "graduated tuition." President Graham Spanier's Tuition Task Force has made some initial plans to give inc oming freshman and current students a clearer picture of what they will have to pay to be educated at Penn State. Students who apply to enter Penn State as freshmen would know how much the tuition level will be each year they will attend Penn State before making it their school of choice, but at a cost.

The initiative puts a greater tuition burden on incoming students to make up for less state money coming in.

For instance, the University of Illinois has proposed a 10 percent increase in tuition across the board and has implemented a $1,000 surcharge for new students at two of its three campuses.

Regardless of the downfalls of the plan, this is a good move on the university's behalf to inform students about the expected costs before they enter into the university.

It may have helped current students who are already in their degree program and now may face leaving the university because of the costs. Giving students a "heads up" is a good thing.

Spanier's Tuition Task Force, headed by Rodney Erickson, executive vice president and provost, is researching tuition scenarios. Erickson said the task force aims to produce a report by the end of the semester.

Spanier said the plan, if it is used, would not go into effect until Fall 2003 so there would be enough time to notify current and entering students of the change.

Other Big Ten universities have begun similar programs where an incoming freshman is charged more than current students.

Ohio State will increase tuition for all students by about 9 percent for next year. Incoming Ohio State students would also pay a one-time extra fee of $1,200 that the university calls an "adjustment." The increase from this year's tuition to next year's for new freshmen will be about 18 percent.

Although this is a great advance for current students, it might deter incoming freshman from choosing Penn State. However, current students may have not been aware of the dramatic increases that came with their years at Penn State.