Last December, I had a chance to meet with Jamshed Bharucha, the new President of Cooper Union in his office with other Cooper Union Alumni. During this meeting, I asked to what extent the tuition model has been developed. “On the question of how much tuition would be charged, how many would have to pay and how much of it they would have to pay, we’ve hired a consultant,” Bharucha said. “It’s a specialty now. It’s called enrollment management. We’ve hired one of the top enrollment management firms. They will do the market research.”
He reiterated that “any student that merits a Cooper Union education should not be denied one because of lack of affordability…but for those who can afford to pay—”
“Has that been defined?” I interjected, “for those who can afford to pay.”
“No it hasn’t been defined,” Bharucha said. “It is a consideration. It has to be costed out.”
While these items are costed out, and the ‘market research’ is performed, it is equally important to be able to articulate the value of a free education.
Last fall, Litia Perta, wrote a wonderful article in The Brooklyn Rail, called “Why Cooper Union Matters. ” It inspired many of us to think about our own Cooper experiences in a larger context. The following is a personal reflection on my Cooper Union education that has been posted on the Friends of Cooper Union Testimonials Page:
