CSU INCREASES FEES BY 20%

by Miles Nevin | Report Card | Long Beach Post

07.21.09 | In the context of California’s gigantic budget dilemma, the California State University (CSU) today voted to increase the State University Fee by 20%. This tuition increase at the country’s largest public university system marks a 30% increase over the last three months; a 10% increase was already implemented in May.

Seconds after the vote, at least ten students in the audience stood and began chanting, “Shame on you, shame on you.”

The vote was widely expected by stakeholders throughout the system. Written into law by the California government over fifty years ago, the CSU system is intended to provide an accessible, affordable, quality higher education to the people of California. However, beginning in the early 1990’s and continuing since then, the state legislature has repeatedly eliminated general fund support for not only the CSU, but also the UC and Community College systems.

They systems’ governing boards, appointed to ensure sound fiscal management of their respective colleges, have increased student fees while slashing department budgets, eliminating programs and adjusting contracts with labor groups.

CSULB will certainly feel the effect of today’s decision. The largest of CSU’s 23 campuses, CSULB students will experience an annual increase of about $750, taking the total to $4,827 per year. Systemwide, students will pay an additional $750 million dollars in the 2009-10 academic year.