Testify at your university's board of trustees meeting about the impact of tuition increases. A school's board of trustees or regents votes on tuition increases. Trustee meetings are public meetings, giving you the chance to testify. Prepare written testimony that explains how tuition increases would negatively affect you or others you know.
Contact your state lawmakers to ask that they not cut funds to colleges. This is the most important step if you are attending a public school. When state lawmakers vote on the state budget, they routinely appropriate hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for public colleges and universities. Make sure that they hear from you, as affected students and parents. Make phone calls and write letters to the legislators explaining your position. For example, if a tuition increase will make it harder for your family to afford your education, point that out.
Organize a rally on campus to publicly pressure campus officials and state lawmakers. Recruit students, professors and parents to speak at the rally. Publicize the rally by making presentations to students groups, posting fliers around campus and posting the event on a social network, such as Facebook or Twitter. Although contacting officials directly is an important step, galvanizing public opinion is crucial. Invite local newspapers and television and radio stations to cover the rally. Have selected speakers explain how budget cuts will hurt them. For example, some families are already struggling to pay for tuition. Explain that raising tuition will prevent new students from enrolling, and that some current students may be forced to drop out.
Write a letter to the editor, demanding that school officials and state legislators prevent tuition increases. This is also part of a media strategy meant to galvanize public opinion. Letters are often short comments that focus on a single point. In this case, you are demanding that tuition is not increased on your campus. Alternatively, you can demand that state lawmakers fully fund the state's colleges and Universities. Submit the letters to multiple newspapers.
Meet with your financial aid counselor to explain the trouble you are having paying your tuition bill. This tactic benefits you in two ways. First, the counselor may be able to increase the amount of scholarships, grants and loans awarded to you. In addition, when a lot of students complain about affordability to counselors, you gain another channel to register your concern with school officials. Financial aid counselors may convey the large amount of complaints to their supervisors.