On Wednesday, high-school students from across the state were penalized for the inefficiency of the California Legislature: Many hardworking high-school students will be turned away from top UCs that they are qualified to attend.
The University of California will decrease its enrollment by 2,300 students. Of these students, one-third are expected to come from underrepresented and low-income communities.
Black students are estimated to decrease by 150 students system-wide while Latino students are estimated to decrease by 425 students system-wide.
The impact of continuous cuts to the UC budget cannot be overlooked or understated. The action of curtailing enrollment has indeed changed the UC forever.
In 1960, the Master Plan of Higher Education was approved by the UC Board of Regents and the State Board of Education (which at that time governed the California State University and California community colleges) and was submitted to the Legislature as a guiding document to ensure the progress of California.
The document outlines the pivotal roles of each institution of higher education. It designates the UC as the state’s primary academic research institution and grants the UC the power to instruct at an undergraduate, graduate and professional level. The plan also states that the UC is responsible for providing the top 12.5 percent of all graduating seniors a seat at one of its campuses.
Decreasing UC enrollment while high-school graduation rates are at their highest is in direct opposition to the vision of an educated California as outlined in the Master Plan.
The action taken by the UC Regents has set a precedent in which students are expected to usurp the cost of a negligent Legislature without attributing any responsibility to those that are truly worthy of a cut.
Not only is the reduction of the student population a disservice to the university, it also holds serious consequences for the state of California.
As described in Hans Johnson and Deborah Reed’s policy briefing “Can California Import Enough College Graduates to Meet Workforce Needs?” California is expected to face a significant shortage of an educated workforce. It is projected that by the year 2025 there will be a 68 percent increase in jobs requiring a graduate degree and a 78 percent increase in jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree.
In light of the enrollment cuts and the projected need for an educated workforce, how does California plan to maintain its stance as the seventh-largest economy in the world if it does not invest in the education of its residents?
As of Wednesday, the governor and Legislature have failed countless Californians and cheated 2,300 students of their rightfully owned seat at a UC. The statement that the UC is underfunded is not a matter of rhetorical arguments, it’s a matter of fact: 2,300 eligible and competitive students will not attend the UC due to insufficient funds.
The governor’s proposed budget calls for a significant reduction to the Cal Grant program, elimination of the Cal Grant A and B, and a 9.3 percent fee increase ““ continuing the pattern that has led to more than a 100 percent increase in fees since 2001. Furthermore, without a state budget in place, students will see IOUs issued to them in lieu of Cal Grants come spring quarter, according to the State Controller’s Office.
We are not attempting to invalidate or understate the dire budget situation in California. Understandably, cuts must be made during such a difficult financial crisis.
Instead, we, as concerned Californians, demand that education stops being viewed as a line item in our budget and is viewed instead as an investment in the future of our state. After all, an investment in higher education is an investment in the economy, and ultimately, an investment in California’s future.
Melgar is the external vice president of the Undergraduate Students Association Council and a board chair of the University of California Student Association. Flores is a student representative for the UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools and is on the board of directors for UCSA.