Budget cuts may hurt UC, economy

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed 10 percent across the board state budget cut could force the University of California to close its doors on thousands of qualified students, raise student fees, and ultimately have a detrimental effect on the state’s economy, according to an independent study by the Campaign for College Opportunity.

The study, released earlier this week by the Campaign for College Opportunity, reveals how the UC may not be able to offer admission to some qualified students because of a lack of funding if the proposed budget cuts are enacted.

The cuts could also result in a decrease in student services as well as larger classes both at UCs, California State Universities and community colleges, which have a mandate for open enrollment, said the report.

Despite the consequences the universities face, Schwarzenegger sees the budget cuts as a solution in the long term, said Sabrina Lockhart, a spokeswoman for the governor.

“The governor understands that the spending reductions are difficult. However they are necessary,” Lockhart said.

According to the study, the cuts made earlier in the decade by the state in response to the dot-com crash are still affecting the universities today.

“The state simply can’t afford to make these cuts to higher education,” said Michele Siqueiros, executive director of the Campaign for College Opportunity, in a press release. “Higher education is the key to our ability to create the robust economy that would prevent the need for future budget cuts.”

Such increases in student fees have been the source of much debate in recent months among students and the UC Board of Regents as they discuss how to deal with the governor’s proposal.

Jesse Melgar, the external vice president for the Undergraduate Student Government Association Council, said he was disappointed with the current budget proposal.

“It’s really sad that higher education is on the backburner for politicians and isn’t being prioritized,” Melgar said.

The study also argues that minority and low-income students that apply for financial aid and utilize the university’s financial services will be the most affected, Melgar said.

Unpredictable student fee hikes could also become a reality as California’s higher education systems try to cope with the budget deficit. Fees could potentially rise to $10,500 from $7,511 and could rise as high as $18,000, the study found.

Increased student fees could potentially force students to begin looking at other, less costlier universities, or to postpone their education, Melgar said.

Still, while the state’s budget deficit remains a problem, the importance of maintaining access to a higher education continues to be a priority, said Ricardo Vazquez, a spokesman for the University of California Office of the President.

Vazquez said that, though the regents recognized the difficult position of the governor, they also realize that the budget proposal could potentially have a devastating impact for higher education.

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