The University of California, widely touted as one of the
country’s best bargains in higher education, became more
expensive over winter break as the UC Board of Regents voted to
raise systemwide fees for the first time in eight years.
All students will face a $135 fee hike in the educational fee,
and some professional students will have to pay additional amounts.
Along with the fee hikes, the regents also voted to slash the
UC’s 2002-2003 budget by tens of millions of dollars in
accordance with cuts proposed by the governor.
At a special meeting linked via teleconference at locations
across California, the board voted 11-4 to approve the fee
increase, which will go into effect spring quarter.
Over a full year, the increase in the educational fee would
total $405, 11.2 percent above current levels. The hike is well
above a proposed 6.5 percent increase included in budget plans for
2003-2004 that were approved in November.
The UC hopes to raise $28 million through the spring quarter fee
hike, one-third of which is slated for financial aid.
The fee hike is planned to cover $19 million out of $74 million
in mid-year budget cuts proposed by Gov. Gray Davis in early
December. Midyear cut proposals across the state total over $2
billion. The state legislature had not yet voted on Davis’
cuts by the time of the regents meeting, and if the legislature
makes any changes to Davis’ cuts, the board plans to adjust
the the UC budget in the future.
UCLA Chancellor Albert Carnesale notified students of the fee
increase in a statement posted on the My.UCLA Web site. The
statement explained the fee increase as a measure taken along with
budget cuts to cope with the state’s budget crisis, and
acknowledged that a mid-year increase is “particularly
unwelcome,” and warned that an additional fee increase for
2003-2004 is likely.
According to Carnesale’s statement, the financial aid
office will contact undergraduates with information on their spring
aid packages.
UC budget vice president Larry Hershman said increased financial
aid would cover the total cost of the fee hike for about one-half
of students receiving aid.
UC President Richard Atkinson said the board needed to move
quickly so the university could notify students and their families
of the fee increase as soon as possible, and characterized the fee
hike as a way to spread the pain around different groups at the
university.
But the University of California Students Association, which
lobbies for UC student interests, objected to the board voting on
student fees when classes were not in session.
“It is entirely inappropriate to schedule a meeting when
students are no longer on campus,” said UCSA chairman Stephen
Klass.
However, not all students opposed the regents’
decision.
“California is going through a budget shortfall, so I
think (the fee hike) is necessary,” said first-year
undeclared student Dorothy Lee.
Several regents expressed reluctance to raise fees, but only
Regents George Marcus, Ward Connerly, Dexter Ligot-Gordon, the lone
student with a vote on the board, and Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, a
regent by virtue of his office, voted against the increase.
Bustamante and Connerly ““ often on different sides of UC
issues, particularly those regarding admissions ““ agreed the
increase places too high of a burden on students and families.
Regent Haim Saban, who left the meeting before a vote was taken
may have been a fifth vote against the increase.
Before leaving, Saban addressed Bustamante, who had spoken
against the increase and said, “I’m with you,
man.”
Davis will release his budget plans for 2003-2004 on Jan. 10,
and has already stated his intention to further cut UC funding.
Among his proposals is a 50 percent reduction in spending on
outreach programs.
The university may be forced to consider major layoffs and cuts
to the instructional budget, Atkinson said.
“We’ve got everything on the table,” he
said.