CSU tuition now twice 2007 cost
San Francisco Chronicle July 12, 2011 01:44 PM
This article appeared on page A - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
LONG BEACH -- California State University trustees voted Tuesday to raise tuition by 12 percent this fall over the objections of protesters who said middle-class and undocumented students will be priced out of a college education.
It is the second increase in less than a year, making this year's tuition 23.2 percent more than last fall's: $5,472, up from $4,440. And with mandatory campus fees averaging $950, the price for a year at CSU will come to about $6,422, not counting room and board.
That's twice what it cost in 2007.
About 100 students and faculty members protested at the meeting in Long Beach, where the trustees voted 13-2 for the increase. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and student trustee Steve Dixon opposed the hike.
"I'm very disappointed," said Sadaf Malik, a San Francisco State biology student who works two jobs to pay for school because her parents earn just slightly more than the cut-off level for financial aid.
"We asked Chancellor (Charles) Reed to look at lowering administrative salaries instead of always looking at raising student fees," Malik said. "They have astronomical salaries, and they shouldn't be living such a lavish life. They should take into consideration the students they're representing."
Alternatively, "we could deny access to 40,000 students - or completely shut down several of our smaller campuses," Quillian said. Another option would be to eliminate 2,300 jobs across the 23-campus CSU system, he said.
The university has already laid off more than 4,125 employees since 2008, reducing the workforce across its 23 campuses to less than 43,000.
CSU isn't alone. The University of California regents are expected to vote Thursday on a 9.6 percent tuition increase.
The tuition increases have been painted as inevitable - and CSU employees must have believed it because they sent out a news release announcing the increase hours before the trustees voted.
"How dare you?" a young man asked the trustees, identifying himself only as a recent alumnus from San Francisco. "I'm not going to stand here and ask you to vote no - obviously there is no point anymore. ... I have the press release about you guys already voting on it in my hands, so don't even try to deny it."
Board of Trustees Chairman Herb Carter said, in effect, that the trustees were raising tuition for the students' own good.
"We do it because we think it's in the best interest of the young people of this state that this university be available to them," he said. "It's easy for you - some of you - to say, 'Don't raise my tuition. I can't pay it.' I understand that. But on the other hand, I also understand what it would be like if we denied access to another 30,000 or 40,000 students."
Reed said CSU remains one of the nation's most affordable universities, and said whenever tuition rises, a third of the increase is set aside for financial aid.
While this benefits students whose families earn up to $70,000, those who have to pay the full price - including middle-class students and those in the country illegally - find the frequent tuition increases especially painful.
Last week, CSU landed on a new federal list of the fastest-rising tuition in the nation.
"I'm really disappointed in the state of California for not prioritizing higher education," said Greg Washington, president of the California State Student Association and a student at Cal State Fullerton. Like Malik, Washington doesn't qualify for financial aid and works to supplement his tuition.
The trustees also approved a salary for the incoming president of CSU's San Diego campus that's about $100,000 higher than his predecessor.
Gov. Jerry Brown had urged them not to.
Elliot Hirshman, the new San Diego campus president, will earn $400,000 compared with $299,435 earned by his predecessor, Stephen Weber.
In voting for the raise, Carter said it was pointless to oppose it because Hirshman was promised that salary and has already begun working at the campus. Carter also appointed a panel to study how CSU selects and compensates its presidents.
It is the second increase in less than a year, making this year's tuition 23.2 percent more than last fall's: $5,472, up from $4,440. And with mandatory campus fees averaging $950, the price for a year at CSU will come to about $6,422, not counting room and board.
That's twice what it cost in 2007.
About 100 students and faculty members protested at the meeting in Long Beach, where the trustees voted 13-2 for the increase. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and student trustee Steve Dixon opposed the hike.
"I'm very disappointed," said Sadaf Malik, a San Francisco State biology student who works two jobs to pay for school because her parents earn just slightly more than the cut-off level for financial aid.
"We asked Chancellor (Charles) Reed to look at lowering administrative salaries instead of always looking at raising student fees," Malik said. "They have astronomical salaries, and they shouldn't be living such a lavish life. They should take into consideration the students they're representing."
Bigger cut
Before the vote, Ben Quillian, CSU's chief financial officer, told the trustees they had no choice but to raise tuition because the new state budget reduced CSU's allocation by $650 million, rather than the expected $500 million.Alternatively, "we could deny access to 40,000 students - or completely shut down several of our smaller campuses," Quillian said. Another option would be to eliminate 2,300 jobs across the 23-campus CSU system, he said.
The university has already laid off more than 4,125 employees since 2008, reducing the workforce across its 23 campuses to less than 43,000.
CSU isn't alone. The University of California regents are expected to vote Thursday on a 9.6 percent tuition increase.
The tuition increases have been painted as inevitable - and CSU employees must have believed it because they sent out a news release announcing the increase hours before the trustees voted.
Angry and angrier
That mistake made angry students and other protesters even angrier."How dare you?" a young man asked the trustees, identifying himself only as a recent alumnus from San Francisco. "I'm not going to stand here and ask you to vote no - obviously there is no point anymore. ... I have the press release about you guys already voting on it in my hands, so don't even try to deny it."
Board of Trustees Chairman Herb Carter said, in effect, that the trustees were raising tuition for the students' own good.
"We do it because we think it's in the best interest of the young people of this state that this university be available to them," he said. "It's easy for you - some of you - to say, 'Don't raise my tuition. I can't pay it.' I understand that. But on the other hand, I also understand what it would be like if we denied access to another 30,000 or 40,000 students."
Reed said CSU remains one of the nation's most affordable universities, and said whenever tuition rises, a third of the increase is set aside for financial aid.
While this benefits students whose families earn up to $70,000, those who have to pay the full price - including middle-class students and those in the country illegally - find the frequent tuition increases especially painful.
Last week, CSU landed on a new federal list of the fastest-rising tuition in the nation.
"I'm really disappointed in the state of California for not prioritizing higher education," said Greg Washington, president of the California State Student Association and a student at Cal State Fullerton. Like Malik, Washington doesn't qualify for financial aid and works to supplement his tuition.
The trustees also approved a salary for the incoming president of CSU's San Diego campus that's about $100,000 higher than his predecessor.
Gov. Jerry Brown had urged them not to.
Salary 'rejection'
"I fear your approach to compensation is setting a pattern for public service that we cannot afford," Brown wrote to Carter. "The assumption is that you cannot find a qualified man or woman to lead the university unless paid twice that of the chief justice of the United States. I reject that notion."Elliot Hirshman, the new San Diego campus president, will earn $400,000 compared with $299,435 earned by his predecessor, Stephen Weber.
In voting for the raise, Carter said it was pointless to oppose it because Hirshman was promised that salary and has already begun working at the campus. Carter also appointed a panel to study how CSU selects and compensates its presidents.
Wage concessions narrow deficit and eliminate tuition increases. University of California faces massive budget shortfalls. It is dismaying Calif. Governor Brown. President Yudof and Board of Regents have, once again, been unable to agree on a package of wage, benefit concessions to close the deficit.
ReplyDeleteCalifornians face foreclosure, unemployment, depressed wages, loss of retirement, medical, unemployment benefits, higher taxes: UC Board of Regents Regent Lansing, President Yudof need to demonstrated leadership by curbing wages, benefits. As a Californian, I don't care what others earn at private, public universities. If wages better elsewhere, chancellors, vice chancellors, tenured, non tenured faculty, UCOP should apply for the positions. If wages commit employees to UC, leave for better paying position. The sky above UC will not fall.
Californians suffer from greatest deficit of modern times. UC wages must reflect California's ability to pay, not what others are paid. Campus chancellors, tenured & non-tenured faculty, UCOP are replaceable by more talented academics
Wage concessions for UC President, Faculty, Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, UCOP:
No furloughs
18 percent reduction in UCOP salaries & $50 million cut.
18 percent prune of campus chancellors', vice chancellors' salaries.
15 percent trim of tenured faculty salaries, increased teaching load
10 percent decrease in non-tenured faculty salaries, as well as increase research, teaching load
100% elimination of all Academic Senate, Academic Council costs, wages.
(17,000 UC paid employees earn more than $100,000)
Overly optimistic predictions of future revenues do not solve the deficit. However, rose bushes bloom after pruning.
UC Board of Regents Sherry Lansing, President Yudof can bridge the public trust gap by offering reassurances that UC salaries reflect depressed wages in California. The sky will not fall on UC
Once again, we call upon UC President, Chancellors, Vice Chancellors, Faculty, UCOP to stand up for UC and ‘pitch in’ for Californians with deeds - wage concessions.