UC President Mark Yudof announces fundraising plans for student support
By Daily Bruin Staff
Oct. 23, 2009 10:27 a.m.
University of California President Mark Yudof announced a plan to raise $1 billion for support across the 10 UC campuses to combat the increasing need for student financial aid because of higher student fees.
Each campus has committed to raising a portion of the funds for Project You Can, which will take place over the next four years. The project will double the amount of private support the UC system has had in the last five years and will be put towards student aid.
“While what I have proposed today will allow us to preserve access and help students with financial need, they are not a substitute for adequate state support,” Yudof said in a speech at Sunnyside High School in Fresno. “We must continue our relentless advocacy in Sacramento for increased state funding, even while we explore new ways to increase support for the university and our students. We must be creative and flexible, except when it comes to one thing: the historic excellence of the university. That is one area where I will not compromise.”
Yudof said he will also be asking the UC Board of Regents to expand the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan when they meet in November. If expanded, the plan would include all university fees for students in financial need from families with incomes of $70,000 and below. The plan currently covers families with incomes of $60,000 or less.
“The chancellors and I agree that we need to be working on all fronts to maintain and enhance access and affordability even in times of tight budgets and continuing state disinvestment,” Yudof said in comments preceding his address. “Our goal is to increase aid significantly for UC students receiving financial support and to make sure no qualified UC student is shut out simply because of a lack of resources.”
Leslie Sepuka, spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President, emphasized the importance of Yudof’s message.
“Lots of people say that they have never been able to afford (student fees),” she said. “Low-income students need to get the message that (they’re) covered.”
The Regents will be asked to endorse the plan in November.
University of California President Mark Yudof announced a plan to raise $1 billion for support across the 10 UC campuses to combat the increasing need for student financial aid because of higher student fees.
Each campus has committed to raising a portion of the funds for Project You Can, which will take place over the next four years. The project will double the amount of private support the UC system has had in the last five years and will be put towards student aid.
“While what I have proposed today will allow us to preserve access and help students with financial need, they are not a substitute for adequate state support,” Yudof said in a speech at Sunnyside High School in Fresno. “We must continue our relentless advocacy in Sacramento for increased state funding, even while we explore new ways to increase support for the university and our students. We must be creative and flexible, except when it comes to one thing: the historic excellence of the university. That is one area where I will not compromise.”
Yudof said he will also be asking the UC Board of Regents to expand the Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan when they meet in November. If expanded, the plan would include all university fees for students in financial need from families with incomes of $70,000 and below. The plan currently covers families with incomes of $60,000 or less.
“The chancellors and I agree that we need to be working on all fronts to maintain and enhance access and affordability even in times of tight budgets and continuing state disinvestment,” Yudof said in comments preceding his address. “Our goal is to increase aid significantly for UC students receiving financial support and to make sure no qualified UC student is shut out simply because of a lack of resources.”
Leslie Sepuka, spokeswoman for the UC Office of the President, emphasized the importance of Yudof’s message.
“Lots of people say that they have never been able to afford (student fees),” she said. “Low-income students need to get the message that (they’re) covered.”
The Regents will be asked to endorse the plan in November.
Compiled by Samantha Masunaga and Samantha Schaefer, Bruin senior staff.
