REACTION TO INCREASES

I was talking to Hazzle Andrada, a Journalism student at CSULB, about school and the budget came up, so I asked her to be in my blog.

Karlin: How do you feel about the 5 percent tuition increase for the upcoming spring semester?

Hazzle: I think it's ridiculous. I feel like the whole making college more and more expensive is making it harder for future generations. How can you encourage education when all they're doing is making it more unobtainable? I feel bad for younger generations.

K: How are the tuition increases personally affecting you?

H: Well, I'm in school because of financial aid. I know that some of the loans I have will be a major pain. I know that for my last semester it will affect me because I don't think I will take 12 units because I will need only a couple more classes. So, I know I will be responsible for paying part of tuition because financial aid won't cover it fully.

K: How are you going to pay for your tuition when financial aid can no longer cover all of it?

H: Saving up from work.

K: Working more?

H: Yeah over the summer and ask my parents possibly.

K: Do you feel the restored budget has affected you in anyway?

H: Honestly, I’m not sure. I don't feel like anything has changed much. It probably will just mean an increase in school population again.

INCREASES LEAD TO DECREASES

Natasha Norman grew up in the upper middle class city of Huntington Beach. She enjoyed the luxuries of a comfortable life until she got to college. She is now a financially independent fifth-year student at CSULB who is faced with the imminent tuition increases.

"I have to pay for my rent, insurance, and daily expenses on top of my expensive tuition. I don't know how I'm going to afford everything when the fees go up again. Something has to give I guess," she said.

She contemplates taking a semester off to save money for her tuition and she is not alone. Many students at UCs and CSUs are thinking of the same remedy to their tuition problems. Featured in an article in the Los Angeles Times, students and officials explain the increasing difficulty of staying in college and the possibility of a decreasing enrollment.

Although financial aid is helpful to many low-income individuals, middle-class students like Natasha suffer because their families are not eligible.

INCREASES APPROVED

The California State University (CSU) Board of Trustees approved the proposed two-step tuition increase (discussed in the previous blog). The first increase the Trustees approved is a mid-year increase of five percent for 2010-2011 that will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2011 for the winter and spring semesters. Second, the Trustees accepted a 10 percent annual increase for the 2011-2012 academic year, effective Fall 2011.

Although the 2010-2011 budget received its first increase in CSU funding since the budget cuts, funds are equal to the funding CSU had five years ago. However, the CSU system has about 25,000 more students than five years ago. Also, some of the resources allocated to the 2010-2011 budget is part of a one-time stimulus to promote enrollment expansion. The one-time stimulus will be depleted before the new students leave the campus. The tuition increases are meant to finance the enrollment expansion after the stimulus is exhausted.

The Trustees, however, have included in the 2011-2012 budget proposal a request for the state to provide $121.5 million to "buy out" the planned 2011-2012 10 percent tuition increase. The "buy-out" funds would allow the CSU to withdraw the tuition increase.

PROTEST IN LONG BEACH

Students from several CSUs gathered outside the CSU Office of the Chancellor in Long Beach to protest and observe the deliberation of the tuition increases on Tuesday Nov. 9, 2010.

Many students shared their arguments against the increases and personal accounts of how the increases would adversely affect the continuation of their college educations. William Hauck, Committee on Finance chair, appreciated the students’ feelings and concerns. He also added that the legislature, governor, board and chancellor made every effort to avoid increasing the tuition.

The Board of Trustees is torn on the decision. Some think that an increase should be the last resort and that all avenues have not been exhausted. Others feel that the increase is necessary to open the school to more students.

Claudia Ramirez, 24, sociology major at CSULB, said to the CSUN Daily Sundial, “We, the students, keep paying more, yet we keep seeing a dismantling of the quality of education in the CSU.”

Photo: Bryan Norton, 19, a sophomore CSU student.; By: Patrick Dilanchian

TUITION OR FEE

Do students really know the difference between tuition student fees? Jennifer Springer, a transfer student to CSULB, said, "I'm not really sure what the difference is, either way, I still have to pay for it every semester."

Tuition is the charge for instruction at a college or university. Fees are the charges for specific or optional services such as health, housing and recreation. However in the recent recession years, public colleges have been increasing student fees to compensate for the budget cuts and cover educational costs.

California’s master plan for higher education, adopted 50 years ago, ideally offered a tuition-free public college education to Californians. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, after a long tradition of this principle, the California State University (CSU) will begin to use the term “tuition” instead of “fees.”

CSU officials feel the term tuition is a more truthful depiction of the charges that students are required to pay. The CSU campuses, not all, will approve the change in jargon by the end of the year.

How will this change in terminology effect students? Christopher Chavez, president of the Cal State Student Association and CSULB student, thinks the change is "unfortunate," but will have minimal impact on students. "It's sad that we're moving away from the ideal, but students are going to be paying the same, no matter what it's called."

The CSU Board of Trustees will review the change in terminology before it can be approved. Along with the new word, increases in tuition will also be assessed. A five percent increase for the remainder of this school year and a 10 percent increase for the following school year.

SPRING 2011 REGISTRATION

Donna Green, the director of CSULB Registration, Records & Evaluations, sent an encouraging message to the student body via email.

As a result of the additional funding provided in the recently passed state budget, numerous academic departments at CSULB will be able to increase their class offerings for Spring 2011. Students will be allowed to register for up to 18 units on their designated registration appointment date.

Traditionally, students were only allowed 16 units during their initial registration date with an additional two units to a total of 18 units just prior to the beginning of the semester. Thankfully, this will not be the case for the Spring 2011 semester registration.

ASI SALARY ON A BUDGET?

An article published in the Daily 49er this month divulged the salaries of CSULB’s ASI Officers. The president, vice president, and treasurer receive an annual compensation of $22,762 each.

Jameson Nyeholt, ASI Treasurer, explained the components of their payment:
- A salary of $16,752
-Free tuition and other student fees totaling $4,810
-$1,200 food credit for 49er Shops, Inc. vendors

The Chief Programming Officer and Chief of Staff make $14,160 in salary plus $4,180 in free student fees for a total of $18,340. Other ASI officers, such as senators, receive little to no pay; $200 to $300 stipend per semester.

According to the 2010-11 projected budget their salaries come from ASI’s nearly $12 million projected annual revenue, of which about $8 million is from student fees.

The duties of the officers are important to the student body and directly affect the campus. However, because CSULB is suffering from the budget cuts – having fewer classes, higher tuition – some students are confused why our ASI officers are among the highest paid in the CSU system.