Students will have to dig deeper into their pockets

The California State University Board of Trustees announced a two-step 15 percent hike in undergraduate tuition, next year to sustain enrollment, classes and services for current students.

In January, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed state budget for 2010-11 assumed a 10-percent increase in CSU tuition and in June, CSU trustees adopted a 5-percent increase that was delayed from last year.

In a statement released on Nov. 10, the CSU Trustees voted to charge an additional mid-year increase of five percent-or $105- for 2010-11 that will go into effect Jan. 1, 2011 for the winter/spring terms. Also, trustees adopted a 10 percent- or $444- annual increase for the 2011-12 academic year effective for fall 2011

Students will pay an estimated $549 more for classes by Fall 2011, and tuition will rise from $4,440 to $4,884 a year.

The fees will raise an additional $27 million this year and $121.5 million next year

According to The Board of Trustees, the new money is essential to maintain the quality of the Cal State education and will allow campuses to add 3,000 courses for winter and spring 2011, and increase enrollment despite reduced state support in previous years.

Mary Stephens, Vice President for Administration and Finance said, “Part of the funding we received was a one-time $106 federal stimulus money that helped us open spring enrollment and allowed admittance for 30,000 students.”

 Stephens added, “But since it is a one-time fund once we spend it, it is gone, and the students will still be on our campuses.”

Despite an approved new budget for the 2010-11 term, that restored $105 million in one-time federal stimulus funds, the CSU system will remain short of millions.

Maggie Wang, Director of Budget Management said, “Compounding this problem, the state directed the CSU to sharply boost enrollments.  The additional students being admitted this spring term will still need classes and services in 2011-12.”

Ted Kadowaki, Asssociate Vice President for Budget and University Services said, “The CSU's state funding was cut $625 million in the most recent years preceding 2010-11.  While the CSU received a partial restoration of about $260 million in state funding in 2010-11, this restoration still falls $365 million short of the total cut.”  

Stephens said, “It’s only when we don’t get money from the state, then we have to increase fees, if we have been appropriately funded by the state the trustees wouldn’t of made this increases.”

Kadowaki added,  “Tuition increases are never popular amongst students and their parents.  However, given the fiscal realities being faced by the California State University, the only other choices are to restrict student access or diminish the quality of programs, neither of which serves the needs of California."

“Without the additional revenues made possible by recent tuition increases, it would not be possible to provide adequate classes and services for students to move timely toward graduation,” he added.

Wang added, “Federal data confirm that CSU campuses are among the most efficient in the country based on expenditures per full time equivalent student and expenditures per annual number of awarded degrees.  The CSU always looks for ways to economize, but CSU operations are already lean.”

According to the CSU Trustees an estimated 180,000 students-approximately half of all CSU undergrads, will be fully covered for the tuition increases due to financial aid. 

Kadowaki added, “The CSU takes many steps to ensure that tuition levels remain moderate and students with financial need are protected from the effects of tuition increases.  Almost half of all undergraduate students do not pay tuition at all, due to CSU grants, fee waivers, and Cal Grants.”

However, a large population that does not qualify for financial aid due to their legal status are the thousands of AB 540 students the CSU system admits each year.

Stephens said, “In regard to AB 540 students it is very problematic, we only charge them in-state tuition, which is less than a fraction of what an out of state student will pay."

She continued, “Legally we cannot fund them (AB 540) with financial aid, which makes it difficult for us, not being able to provide them with any help.”

  

DREAM Act: Support Students To Obtain a Path to Legalization      The purpose of the Development, Relief and Education of Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act). Will give an opportunity to undocumented immigrants students who have been living in the U.S. since they were young a path to legalization. For those who have chosen to attend a higher education institute or the military service. It will enable them to contribute back to the country with their learned sills. According to the Migration Policy Institute an estimated 825,000 immigrants would benefit from the Act. Criteria for a young person to qualify for conditional relief and eventually permanent relief include: *Entry into the U.S. before the age of 16; *Presence in the U.S. for five consecutive years; *Completion of high school (through graduation or G.E.D.) or acceptance into college; *Being between 12 and 35 years of age at the time of application; and *Establishment of "good moral character" as defined under immigration law.

Image Source: tucsoncitizen.com

Criteria info source: Maldef.org