A blow to students

Higher education is an investment in an individual’s professional and personal development and in the human infrastructure necessary to keep California’s economy competitive. The University of California system’s 30% fee hike is a threat to these goals.

The Board of Regents’ decision is easy to understand given the state’s financial position, but it remains hard to accept due to its impact on students aspiring to a college education.

It can’t be ignored that California has had one of the least expensive public higher education systems in the country. In an effort to close the budget gap, and leading up to this hike, there have been layoffs, furloughs and program and course cancellations to save the system money, but this was not enough. The new analysis of the state deficit, at least $20 billion deeper in the red, is a bad omen for the future.

At the same time, we recognize that scholarships for low-income students are increasing. Middle and middle-upper class students are the ones bearing the brunt of the Regents’ decision. Here, the most serious issue is the cut in the number of young people who will be accepted at a time when the need and interest in going to college are the highest they have been in recent times.

In general, state university systems have increased costs for students and limited space for enrollment. The high cost of all this will be in lives that may not realize their fullest potential because of the lack of educational opportunity.

We have repeatedly stressed the importance of clear priorities in times of crisis. The situation now confronting students and the long-term effect it will have on the state are a condemnation of Sacramento’s budget policy.

Higher education is an investment in an individual’s professional and personal development and in the human infrastructure necessary to keep California’s economy competitive. The University of California system’s 30% fee hike is a threat to these goals.

The Board of Regents’ decision is easy to understand given the state’s financial position, but it remains hard to accept due to its impact on students aspiring to a college education.

It can’t be ignored that California has had one of the least expensive public higher education systems in the country. In an effort to close the budget gap, and leading up to this hike, there have been layoffs, furloughs and program and course cancellations to save the system money, but this was not enough. The new analysis of the state deficit, at least $20 billion deeper in the red, is a bad omen for the future.

At the same time, we recognize that scholarships for low-income students are increasing. Middle and middle-upper class students are the ones bearing the brunt of the Regents’ decision. Here, the most serious issue is the cut in the number of young people who will be accepted at a time when the need and interest in going to college are the highest they have been in recent times.

In general, state university systems have increased costs for students and limited space for enrollment. The high cost of all this will be in lives that may not realize their fullest potential because of the lack of educational opportunity.

We have repeatedly stressed the importance of clear priorities in times of crisis. The situation now confronting students and the long-term effect it will have on the state are a condemnation of Sacramento’s budget policy.

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