Free tuition?

College is expensive. We all go through paying tuition, getting loans and trying to scrape together some money for other things. Imagine tuition costing more than it already does.

On Feb. 15, students will have the chance to thank the alumni that make their education possible.

If it weren't for the alumni, what students pay for tuition would only cover up to Feb. 15.

Norwich University has been involved in celebrating Tuition Freedom Day for the past two years and this year it will be held Feb. 15, according to the assistant director of class relations.

Tuition Freedom Day is an "all-day event educating students about philanthropy and also to thank alumni for their help," said Danielle Krizan, assistant director of class relations.

As the alumni website notes, "Tuition Freedom Day is the symbolic day that represents the point during the school year when students' contributions to their tuition stops covering the cost of their education and donor gifts pay for the balance."

Amber Ferland, 22, a senior civil engineering major from Vassalboro, Maine, said, "Tuition Freedom Day is the point during the academic year when students' tuition payment stops covering the cost of their education and donor gifts pay for the balance."

"(TFD is) essentially a day when tuition dollars run out and alumni (and) financial aid donations take over," added Hilary Davis, director of class relations, development & alumni relations.

"Tuition Freedom Day is a day to make students aware of how much education really costs," said Felicia Desorcie, 22, a senior civil engineering major from Westford, Vt.

Philanthropy is a huge part of what TFD represents, and both students and facility agree.

Davis said philanthropy, "means supporting something you feel passionate about, and if you put pride in something then I want to be a part of it."

"Philanthropy means a charitable action," said Ferland. "I think of it as doing good deeds for the welfare of others."

Desorcie said, "Philanthropy to me means being kind to others, often in forms of donation or acts of good will."

"Philanthropy means supporting a cause which you are passionate about or it could be supporting a non-profit" or anything similar to that, said Krizan. "Basically giving your time to support, most students don't realize they are doing it, like Relay for Life and also for the greater good."

Despite the amount of alumni donations at Norwich, other campuses celebrate the same gifts and have their own Tuition Freedom Day.

"TFD is held all throughout the country and there are many videos about TFD that can be searched on YouTube," said Krizan.

"A lot of schools are doing (it for) awareness and it started through different conferences and other schools to show students where there money comes through to keep the doors open," Davis said.

TFD is something that's beneficial for students to know about on campus.

Desorcie explained that it "demonstrates to students how fortunate they are to have alumni support that allows for tuition to be lower than it would be without their support."

"I think it is beneficial for students to know what this day is about because they deserve to know what is happening on campus when it comes to tuition money," said Ferland.

"Donors give money towards students' education whether it is in the form of scholarships or the welfare of the school... students should take a day to appreciate it," she said.

TFD is also a day where other ideas about philanthropy might be offered.

"An option that will hopefully be presented at Tuition Freedom Day is to donate to the Professor Carol Stephens Memorial Fund," said Ferland. Seniors receive information about their senior gift and instead of donating money to the school, they could donate to the memorial fund, explained Ferland. " This money will directly benefit engineering students."

For further information about TFD, check out the website at www.alumni.norwich.edu/tfd2012.

Visit the Wise Campus center on Feb. 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to sign a banner and learn about your senior class gift and from 5-7 p.m. to write thank you's to alumni for the "Thank-a-Thon."