State legislature suggests 10 percent hike in tuition

By Crystal Betz
Daily Bruin Contributor

The California state legislature’s latest report, in an
effort to reform the master plan for higher education, questions
California’s long-standing low fee policy, suggesting that
college costs be raised by 10 percent.

Currently the University of California is regarded as one of the
best deals in higher education. In 2001, fees for the UC were
roughly 77 percent of the level charged at all public research
universities around the country, according to a report issued by
the Finance and Facilities Working Group ““ one of seven
sub-groups advising the state senate and assembly’s joint
committee to develop a Master Plan for Education.

But all that may change.

“The original master plan came down squarely on the side
of low student charges, prohibiting tuition, and assuming that the
posted price of admission was the most important factor steering
young adults toward or away from college,” said the report,
which was released last week.

“Statewide student charges should increase in a gradual,
moderate and predictable fashion,” it said.

In the early 1990s, during an economic recession, tuition fees
increased by 40 percent, according to Stephen Blake, chief
consultant for the joint committee.

The quick increase in fees discouraged people from coming to the
UC, Blake said.

“(Potential students) stopped thinking (the UC) was
affordable,” Blake said.

“If you had a rational increase in fees, you could
rationally plan financial aid policies and outreach policies, so
those who would be affected by an increase (would) know they
qualify for aid,” he added.

The report cited “modern realities” as the reason a
policy reconsideration is necessary.

“Modern realities” refers to the strong budgetary
pressure higher education is subjected to from the current
depressed economy, said Michael Ricketts, consultant for the
Finance and Facilities working group.

Currently the state of California is facing a multibillion
dollar budget shortfall and an increase in student fees has been
presented as one possible way to help California’s fiscal
situation.

“Student fees are decreased in good economic times and are
increased in bad economic times,” said Ricketts. “These
are the cycles our report is making recommendations on. The state
needs to develop a consistent policy with tuition increases that
are moderate,” he added.

Members of the working group believe that because of the access
of financial aid, an increase in fees ““ if moderate ““
plays a relatively small part of a person’s decision on where
or if to college.

Instead, the report suggests other factors, such as the role of
parents and a student’s high school achievements, play a more
important role for students enrolling in college.

The report also suggests that a 10 percent fee increase in
tuition would only reduce enrollment by 0.52 percent in four-year
institutions and by 1.34 percent in two-year institutions.

While these percentages may seem small, Assemblywoman Elaine
Alquist, D-San Jose, who serves on the Master Plan committee and as
the chair of the Assembly’s committee on higher education,
said when the percentages are put into actual numbers the impact
seems much greater.

A 10 percent tuition increase would eliminate educational
opportunity for 950 UC students, 2,000 CSU students and 21,400
community college students, Alquist wrote in a report to Master
Plan Committee Chair Senator Dede Alpert, D-San Diego.

“Thirty million dollars is such a miniscule amount of
money to the state budget, anything could replace a tuition fee
increase to help the economic situation,” said Paul Mitchell,
spokesman for Alquist.

Alquist has said she will vote against any state budget proposal
that calls for a student fee increase.

The Master Plan, currently under reconstruction, has not been
altered since its original implementation in 1960.

Then, the Master Plan required the UC to accept the top 12.5
percent of California high school graduates. It also established
the UC as the primary research institution of the state and the
only state institution allowed to award Ph.Ds.

The new Master Plan, however, is designed to incorporate both
universities and K-12, hoping to provide a “seamless
transition” from high school to college. Each working group
is made up of 25-65 leaders from education, business and civic
backgrounds, according to a statement from Alpert’s
office.

“The Working Group reports are providing a great amount of
focused expertise that will help us create a comprehensive,
learning-centered system,” said Alpert.