TCHS alumni and the estimated 27% attending a UC next year of the senior class will see a rise in tuition as part of the University of California Board of Regents’ new five-year plan to increase funding. Each year’s 5% increase will be compounded, increasing the tuition fees by more than 25% over the next five years.
“If the state does not increase funding, then tuition in the first year of the plan would gross approximately $135 million,” UC Spokesperson Ms. Brooke Converse said in an interview with Rampage. “The plan would enable the university to enroll at least 5,000 more California students over 5 years.”Students across all UC campuses have been protesting against the plan since it was proposed on Nov. 6. “At UCSD, the tuition increase caught the attention of every student,” UCSD Freshman and TCHS Alumnus Ryan Yueh said. “The day before the proposed tuition increase was scheduled to be presented before the UC regents, hundreds of passionate students ranging from first years to super seniors were rallied outside of Geisel library in protest.”
According to Ms. Converse, the UC’s receive $460 million less in state funding than it did before the economic recession of 2007, despite enrolling more California students.
“The increase in revenue would then be distributed to campuses and used to address the most pressing needs at each location,” Ms. Converse said. “UC could reduce the student to faculty ratio, provide additional courses, increase support services and boost graduation rates and time to degree.”
One-third of the increased tuition will go to financial aid, so that the UC’s can continue to ensure that 55% of undergraduates pay zero tuition.
“If the tuition was rising to provide college students with better professors, equipment, facilities and faculty, I guess that would be somewhat understandable,” UC Irvine Sophomore and TCHS Alumnus Josh Chun said. “But to be completely honest, we pay more than students ever have in the past, and that includes the effects of inflation.”
College and Career Coordinator Ms. Amy Sisson advises that students look into scholarships, work-study programs and guaranteed tuition in order to cut down increasing college fees.
“We plan on offering another Paying for College workshop,” Ms. Sisson said. “For students who are really trying to make decisions about schools based on the financial end of things, I would recommend that they talk to me so that we can get a workshop put together.”
The tuition increases are contingent on state funding. If the state provides more funding then the tuition increase could be reduced or eliminated altogether.