As full-time cook at a Chinese restaurant, Marlyn Hwang’s
father barely makes $60 a day. So when Hwang’s family decided
to send her to college, it caused concern.
Like many other University of California students, Hwang, a
third-year sociology and economics student, decided to go to a
public university partly to get a good education without paying a
high price.
After receiving a Cal Grant upon entering UCLA, Hwang said she
still has to work three jobs and take out loans to pay for her
education.
The release of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Jan. 10 state
budget has caused students such as Hwang to worry about their
financial security. In addition, there is confusion as to whether
the governor will compensate for the fee increases with more
financial aid.
Nicolas Valdivia, executive assistant director of the Financial
Aid Office, said though the governor’s budget proposal will
increase undergraduate fees by 8 percent, students who qualify will
receive the amount of aid needed to pay the fees.
The new budget will save $7.5 million by reducing the maximum
Cal Grant award for students attending private institutions from
$8,332 to $7,449. Part of this revenue will in turn go to keeping
financial aid stable for state-funded universities.
In addition, 75 percent to 80 percent of students who do not
receive the amount they need from the Cal Grants may be awarded
university grants and workstudy offers as well, Valdivia
said.
Students, especially continuing students who are already in the
Cal Grant system, should have nothing to worry about for now, he
said.
“If you are eligible to receive financial aid, you only
have to renew the application each year. No new criteria on
funding, assets or income is enforced,” Valdivia said.
In a hypothetical situation, an entering freshman whose family
income is $65,000 may be awarded $13,000 to cover a $20,000
tuition. The only reason the student would no longer be eligible
for aid in continuing years is if his or her family income becomes
drastically higher.
“Once you’re in the program, you’re in,”
Valdivia said.
Though Cal Grant recipients are safe, there have been recent
reductions to the federal Pell Grant program and to campus-based
aid at UC and Cal State Universities, according to a press release
by the California Student Public Interest Research Group, the
California State Student Association and the University of
California Student Association.
As for the increase in fees for the 2005-2006 year, the students
who do not qualify for financial aid will consequently have to work
more hours and take out more loans, according to the press
release.
Many students have expressed uneasiness about the reliability of
financial aid awards. The mere uncertainty about future changes to
the state budget has left some students searching for alternate
funds.
Elena Perez, a fourth-year English student, received a Cal
Grant, university grant and Pell Grant, all of which fall short of
covering her basic expenses.
“If I for some reason was no longer eligible to get money
for school, then I’d probably have to take out more loans and
be way in debt,” Perez said. “It really discourages me
from furthering my education.”
Hwang admits that working long hours and stressing over how to
finance her education also get in the way of other things.
“It affects my studies and social life; if I have any
breaks between class, I’m at work. It’s frustrating; it
really is,” she said.