Students pay enough for tuition and other costs as it is, so we should not be expected to pay even more just to be able to do our homework and projects. Whether it be a Pearson subscription for a math class or an Adobe license for graphic design, students should be provided with the materials necessary to do their work.
Pearson Labs
Most students that have taken math or science courses have had to buy a Pearson lab access code at one point or another. Pearson, as one of the major textbook companies, already has a monopoly on education, without needing to get students to pay money for homework. Pearson homework programs are not necessary, and they exist purely as a way to make more money off of students. The university already pays for Canvas, which could be used like Pearson programs are for assignments and assessments. Students already use Canvas to turn in work and take quizzes and exams, so why not use that feature instead of making students pay more for additional software?
VHL Central
VHL Central is a program that has a similar purpose to Pearson labs but for language courses. VHL Central, like Pearson labs, is a way for students to complete assignments and assessments as well as giving access to online textbooks. However, VHL Central access is a bit more expensive then the Pearson programs, with the 24-month access for Spanish I and II courses being around $200.
Adobe Creative Cloud
Adobe software is extremely useful and, in some cases, necessary for some courses. With that said, this software is also quite expensive, with the Creative Cloud package being $30 a month after a student discounted trial that only lasts a year. In years past, when you could be the individual software needed, it could have been understandable for students to be able to pay for one or two of these programs on their own, but with relatively recent changes to Adobe’s billing system, the software can only be purchased in a complete Creative Cloud bundle. The bundle includes many programs that most students probably would not use on a regular basis.
This is not a suggestion that the university pays for all of these programs for all students. Instead, the university, specifically the colleges and departments that offer courses that require such programs, should cover the costs, or at least offer financial support, to the students enrolled. The university already provides Microsoft Office programs, so why not cover the costs of other programs to help students succeed? Much like labs for STEM students, these programs could even be funded in part by the tuition that has already been paid.
