Correction: The original version of this article published on Nov. 19 contained an error. The public opinion survey of California residents about university fee increases was conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California and funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
The University of California Board of Regents approved an 8 percent tution increase Thursday over calls by students, state officials and members of the board to seek longer-term solutions to budget difficulties.
The regents also approved changing the word “fees” to “tuition” starting July 1, 2011.
By a 15-5 vote, regents added $822 to tuition for all students. California families earning more than $120,000 annually will pay $11,124 per year.
This is the fourth time in the past three years that the regents have approved a tuition hike, and tuition has nearly tripled in the last decade.
To mediate the impact on middle-class families, regents approved an expansion of the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan. For next year only, financial aid will cover the tuition increase for families earning less than $120,000 annually.
Cuts in state funding necessitated the fee hike, said the UC Office of the President. But Undergraduate Student Association Council president Jasmine Hill said consistent increases deter future investment.
“Why would the state increase funding if we are reaching into our pockets and doing it ourselves?” Hill said.
California’s government now faces a $25.4 billion deficit, according to a report by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office last week. Patrick Lenz, UC vice president of the budget, said this deficit presents an “overwhelming challenge” for UC to overcome in the future.
In a letter addressed to the regents, John Perez, California speaker of the assembly, voiced opposition to the increases.
He wrote that the legislature has “worked hard to restore prior year funding reductions to the UC.”
The budget signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 8 restored $200 million in previous cuts to the UC. Along with federal stimulus funds, UC regained nearly half of the funds that were cut in 2009-2010.
Hill told the regents she believes these funding restorations were made in response to the student protest at UCLA last year rather than to political advocacy by the regents.
Hill also said she has shouldered 19 units and taken a second job to help fund her education.
Perez said the legislature did not have time to discuss potential budget solutions with the regents after UC President Mark Yudof announced the proposal Nov. 8.
During a 40-minute discussion, individual regents expressed reluctance in approving another tuition hike but said no other options remained.
State funding to the UCs remains 10 percent less than what it was in 2007-08, even with the budget restorations signed by Schwarzenegger.
The UC must also address rising mandatory costs that are exacerbated by a faculty retirement fund that went unfunded for 20 years.
“I came here with full intention of voting against this,” said Regent George Marcus. “But the case was made very, very, very compelling.”
Regent Charlene Zettel, a recent addition to the board, cast a “no” vote. She said she was not convinced that all alternatives had been exhausted.
Student Regent Jesse Cheng also voted against the tuition increase. Cheng said the dissenting votes marked a step forward for those who oppose future fee hikes.
“This time around we saw a lot more reluctance,” Cheng said. “We’re planting seeds.”
Regent Eddie Island was one such reluctant. Island voted for the proposal but said he was disappointed Yudof only presented the regents with one option to vote on. He also said annual tuition increases present risk to the long-term viability of UC.
“We will yet meet the iceberg if don’t change way we’re doing (things),” Island said.
Californians are taking notice of the UC tuition trends. A telephone survey of 2,500 residents conducted from Oct. 19-Nov. 2 by the Public Policy Institute of California and funded by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation revealed only 35 percent of Californians favored raising student tuition as a revenue source.
In addition, 76 percent said higher education should be a priority for Governor-elect Jerry Brown.
On Wednesday, students’ raucous demonstration against tuition increases led to 13 arrests and four injured police officers. No protestors came to the Thursday meeting.
Chancellor Gene Block commended UCLA students for conducting peaceful protests throughout the week.
“(Students at the regents meeting) were actually in the room speaking,” Block said. “They made their points clearly and appropriately.”
Peaceful demonstration by UCLA students also took the form of a Powell Library study-in Monday.