These past few years have been tough for California State University and University of California students and their families. Today the CSU Board of Trustees raised fees again, but that’s expected because of the Compact between the governor, UC President Dynes and CSU Chancellor Reed signed in May 2004.

From the LA Times:

Despite the pleas of students who complained of financial hardship, trustees of the California State University system today approved fee increases of 8% for undergraduates and 10% for those in graduate programs.

The increases mean a fifth straight year of fee hikes for the 400,000 students in the 23-campus Cal State system, the nation’s largest network of public universities. University of California regents are due to vote on similar fee increases next month.

Under the plan approved by the Cal State trustees, full-time undergraduate students who are California residents will pay $2,724 in systemwide fees next year, up from $2,520 this year. Combined with the additional fees imposed by individual campuses, undergraduates will pay an average of $3,368 next year, up from $3,164.

For graduate students, the 10% boost will bring systemwide fees up to $3,414, up from $3,102, not counting campus fees.

I’ll be at the UC Regents meeting next month in Berkeley to argue advocate against the fee hikes. Even the UCLA Chancellor Carnesale — himself a fan of increasing fees — admits that UCLA students are now paying more and getting less and that increases in financial aid are increasing but at lower rates than before. For students at UC and CSU campuses who are fed up, my best advice would be to contact student government officers to see how they’re working systemwide to mitigate the situation.

My own take on the situation as a graduate student and UCLA student since 1998.

Related posts:

1. Hail to the Hills of Westwood
2. Adios, Carnesale
3. Do the Jingle Dance
4. Collecting Degrees
5. At the risk of incurring the wrath of Trojans near and far…