On Tuesday and Thursday, the UC Board of Regents will convene on
the campus of UC Berkeley. Among the items on their agenda is UC
President Dynes’ recommendation for the 2006-2007 University
of California budget. The budget includes yet another increase to
our student fees.
Over the past four years, our annual systemwide mandatory fees
have jumped from $3,429 to $6,141. This amounts to a 79 percent
increase since 2001.
As steep as these hikes have been, they are just the beginning
of the sharp increases students have faced in the cost of
attendance at the UC.
Other costs associated with attending the UC ““ including
housing, transportation, and health insurance ““ have risen
dramatically in recent years. They will continue to increase again
in the coming school year.
These increasing fees are partially a result of the Higher
Education Compact, an agreement negotiated by Dynes and Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger in May 2003.
This compact sold out students by promising to increase their
fees by an average of 10 percent for three consecutive years.
The most troubling aspect of the budget being proposed, however,
is not the increase in fees, but the insufficient funding provided
by the institution for financial aid.
UCLA has one of the highest percentages of low-income students
among top universities. Our students rely on grants from the
university to ensure that they will be able to attend.
The proposal by the Office of the President fails to fulfill the
university’s commitment to providing affordable options for
students to finance their education.
Dynes’ proposal allocates only 25 percent, rather than the
traditional 33 percent, of student fee increases to the UC’s
traditional need-based financial aid grants.
Students must somehow make up for the lack of grant money. The
result is that these students will be expected to contribute
additional funds by working and borrowing more.
Before 2004, one-third of student fees were set aside to provide
grants to students with unmet financial need. These grants ensure
that the university remains affordable to students of all income
levels.
As fees increase, money from the practice of “return to
aid” is used to provide grants to cover these costs for
students in need.
However, if sufficient RTA dollars are not allocated, the
state’s responsibility for providing an affordable education
is shifted to the backs of students.
A 25 percent return-to-aid will exacerbate an already difficult
financial situation for the UC’s low- and middle-income
students.
These students can’t be expected to work more hours. One
in seven students already work more than 20 hours a week, according
to a recent student expense and resource survey.
Loans are becoming an increasingly less viable option as well;
the U.S. Congress is currently considering legislation that
threatens to make drastic cuts to student loan programs.
UC admissions policies and inequalities in K-12 education
already provide significant barriers for many communities within
the state of California.
Approval of Dynes’ proposal will erect an additional
barrier for low- and middle-income students’ ability to pay
for higher education. It is not hard to imagine that these students
will become less and less visible on our campus as a result.
In response to this proposal, students from across the UC system
will come together on the Berkeley campus today and Thursday to
respond to President Dynes’ proposal.
Any concerned UCLA student may join by e-mailing
[email protected].
Since President Dynes and the governor do not prioritize
students, we must remind the regents to carefully consider the
significant consequences of their actions should they approve to
once again increase our fees and simultaneously provide
insufficient funding to financial aid.
If they approve this proposal, the pillars on which the
university prides itself ““ access, affordability, and quality
““ will be eroded.
Biniek is the external vice president for the Undergraduate
Students Association Council. Both Biniek and Obergfell are members
of the University of California Student Association Board of
Directors.