Given the overwhelmingly college-centric lives we lead, it is easy to forget that, as Tufts students, we are also residents of Medford and Somerville. The university has therefore embarked on a new partnership with the two cities in an effort to bolster relations with the surrounding community. With a donation of $1.375 million over a five-year period a portion of which will go toward local police and fire departments the university hopes to build a mutually beneficial relationship with our local governments and communities. This partnership is a commendable one, as it is necessary for Tufts to give back to and maintain a good standing with the community.
The agreement will also serve to advance local high schools and assist students applying to Tufts. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions receives applications from all over the world, but the lack of applications from students from our neighboring towns the number ranges from 19 to 36 from Somerville in the last five years is rightfully concerning. To address this, the university has decided to waive the $70 application fee for Medford and Somerville High School students in hopes of eliminating any financial concerns preventing these students from applying to Tufts. Although this might be viewed as unfair to other Tufts applicants, it is worth noting that the option to waive the fee is open to all students who can prove they are financially unable. By removing the fee for local high school students, the university will give students who might not otherwise apply an opportunity to do so.
In addition, community outreach will include providing SAT preparation and essay-writing classes for local students applying to the university as it looks to increase the number of applications from Medford and Somerville. The positive aspects of these community-building programs are undeniable. However, it remains particularly unclear how Tufts will manage these workshops, raising the question of whether we should be allocating all these resources toward high school students rather than the existing student body. The university should clarify whether the prep courses will be run by faculty, outside teachers or even current Tufts students.
Regardless of the grey areas in Tufts new collaboration with Medford and Somerville, it remains clear that the partnership is both necessary and valuable. The university relies on the goodwill of local residents to carry on activities from Fall Gala to Spring Fling. More importantly, the new program should open up new opportunities for students to withdraw from their daily lives and engage with the local community.
