College tuition hike too much

[dismom2]

"three times the cost only a decade ago"

I'm wondering if some people want an educated America at all. When it comes to education, it should remain affordable. Not all students have wealthy parents; not all students qualify for grants. To throw out such a large increase at once should be illegal. I understand that schools are facing financial difficulties, but there has to be a better alternative than to do something like this....and with such short notice. Do these law makers really 'think' about the long term effects of their decisions?


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091119/...niversity_fees

LOS ANGELES – University of California students will get a much larger tuition bill next year.

The Board of Regents on Thursday approved a 32 percent increase in undergraduate student fees, despite protests by hundreds of demonstrators outside the regents' meeting at UCLA.

By next fall, undergraduate fees will be boosted by $2,500, sending the average annual education cost at a UC campus to more than $10,000.Regents say they had to raise fees because the cash-strapped state government can't meet the university's funding needs.

The decision came as hundreds of students chanted and marched outside the meeting hall to protest the measure. Some students also took over another UCLA building and chained the doors shut.

Police in riot gear kept an eye on the protesters.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officers armed with beanbag guns stood by as hundreds of protesters chanted, marched and even took over a building Thursday on the UCLA campus, where University of California regents were scheduled to vote on a 32 percent student fee increase.

The UC Board of Regents is considering boosting undergraduate fees — the equivalent of tuition — by $2,500 next year. The average annual fee for a full-time undergraduate would jump to about $10,300 — three times the cost only a decade ago.
For a second day, the proposal drew demonstrators to the University of California, Los Angeles. Some came from other UC campuses and stayed overnight in a tent city.

The demonstrators outside UCLA's Covel Commons building chanted, beat drums and waved signs urging "No fee hikes" and "Wanted: Leadership."

One student was arrested for obstructing an officer. She was cited and released, said UCLA spokesman Phil Hampton.

Campus police in helmets with face shields stood guard outside the conference building. The campus was also being monitored by police from several UC campuses and more than a dozen California Highway Patrol officers armed with beanbag-tossing shotguns.

Laura Zavala, 20, a third-year UCLA student, said she may have to get a second job to afford the increase.

"My family can't support me. I have to pay myself," she said. "It's not fair to students, when they are already pinched."

Ayanna Moody, a second-year pre-law student, said she might have to return to community college next year.

"I worked so hard to be at one of the most prestigious universities. To have to go back, it's very depressing," she said.

"I think it's outrageous," she said of the fee increase. "They've already cut out a lot of our majors and programs. I'd rather they cut some of their (administrator) salaries."

About 30 to 50 protesters staged a takeover of Campbell Hall, a building across campus that houses ethnic studies, Hampton said.

They chained the doors shut but were peaceful and there were no immediate plans to remove them, Hampton said.

No arrests had been made, although 14 demonstrators were arrested on Wednesday and cited for failure to disperse or disturbing the peace.

Demonstrations also were held at other UC campuses.

UC President Mark Yudof told reporters Wednesday he couldn't rule out raising student fees again if the state is unable to meet his request for an additional $913 million next year for the 10-campus system.

"I can't make any ... promises," he said.

After a series of deep cuts in state aid, and with state government facing a nearly $21 billion budget gap over the next year and a half, Board of Regents members said there was no option to higher fees.

"When you have no choice, you have no choice," Yudof said after a Regents' committee endorsed the fee plan Wednesday. "I'm sorry."

The Los Angeles meeting was repeatedly interrupted by outbursts from students and union members, who accused the board of turning its back on the next generation.

"We are bailing out the banks, we are bailing out Wall Street. Where is the bailout for public education?" asked UCLA graduate student Sonja Diaz.

University of California, Irvine, economics student Sarah Bana told the board,

"You are jeopardizing California's future."

___

Associated Press Writer Marcus Wohlsen in Berkeley, Calif., contributed to this report

[glitterkittyy]

I haven't read all the posts, but yes, in summary, it sucks.

But what can be done to fix it? The Universities have had their federal funding cut, their state funding cut and research grant funding cut. So what choice do they have?

[dismom2]

"We are bailing out the banks, we are bailing out Wall Street. Where is the bailout for public education?" asked UCLA graduate student Sonja Diaz."

Not to mention, some of that bailout money for the above group was used to give huge bonuses.... why was this allowed?

Survival of the fittest, or survival of the richest?

[lspst8]

It awful, but it is happening everywhere. I live In Pennsylvania, and our state schools are even more expensive. I just checked and, depending on your major, it costs between 13,000 and 17,000 in JUST TUITION to attend Pitt or Penn State.

When I was in law school, Penn State hiked tuition 25%, but, of course, it didn't want to raise anyone's scholarship. I guess everyone on partial scholarships complained, because they eventually bumped them up by the same percentage.

And the mayor of Pittsburgh just proposed a 1% tax on tuition for every college in the city! I know it isn't a lot, but current students don't really need more random fees to go to school.

[glitterkittyy]

Originally Posted by dismom2

"We are bailing out the banks, we are bailing out Wall Street. Where is the bailout for public education?" asked UCLA graduate student Sonja Diaz."

Not to mention, some of that bailout money for the above group was used to give huge bonuses.... why was this allowed?

Survival of the fittest, or survival of the richest?

Suffice it to say that banks, wall street and the auto makers all generate revenue (well in theory, they do), which means taxes for the government too.

Education? It doesn't pay.

I mean I agree with your point, but there would be no payback (in dollars) for that kind of bailout.

[legalsea]

I also have not read all of the posts, but I will add that when I went to law school back in 1981-83, at Texas Tech, I paid $3.00 per hour in tuition.

[dismom2]

Originally Posted by glitterkittyy

Suffice it to say that banks, wall street and the auto makers all generate revenue (well in theory, they do), which means taxes for the government too.

Education? It doesn't pay.

I mean I agree with your point, but there would be no payback (in dollars) for that kind of bailout.

You're correct-- that is the bottom line.

[disney1990]

I remember some of the heated Dis Board arguments about health insurance. Somebody said that health insurance was NOT a right. I guess that higher education is NOT a right either.

[BriarfoxinWA]

Originally Posted by disney1990

I remember some of the heated Dis Board arguments about health insurance. Somebody said that health insurance was NOT a right. I guess that higher education is NOT a right either.

No it's not a right. I'm paying my sons tuition out of pocket since his mutual fund tanked a couple of years ago. He's working summers to help. Between tuition and room/board we paid around $14k last year. This year he has an off campus apartment with a couple of roommates. Tuition went up a little but I think that I'll end up paying out less since it is cheaper for him off campus. He is going to Eastern Washington University - so not a big name school at all.

I am totally opposed to considering higher education as a right. There are many many kids that just aren't cut out for college. Not to mentioned that we are putting DS through college without an single dime of scholarship or aid money.

[Planogirl]

It's rather sad. I see lots of people that just have tons of student loan debt and it's only going to get worse. I don't see college as a right but these prices are bizarre.

[golfgal]

Maybe in California the costs have gone up that much in a decade but not in our area. Costs have doubled in the past 20 years, but not tripled in the past 10. Our DS's tuition/room/board next year will be $14,000. When I went to college the state schools (where is is attending) were $7000. The private school I attended was $16,000 for everything when I was there and is at $35,000 now. That is not triple, and it has been more than 20 years since I graduated. My cousin went to the same college I attended 10 years before I did and it was $5500 for her to go there so cost rose MUCH higher then.

[disney1990]

I didn't take a stand one way or the other on whether college was a right. I know that, personally, my DD is in debt for the education that she is pursuing. Nobody gave her a free education.

[scrapquitler]

The State of California is flat out broke, according to what I hear on the news...they've got to cut back funding on something or other to be able to meet all the state's financial obligations. I suppose that college students probably are a less organized, less powerful lobbying group than other special interest groups in the state, so that it why the cuts (or more honestly, lower increases in funding) get done to the university system. Sad but true.

[ajk912]

I hear you and I was just thinking it's ridiculous that the community college I am starting at in January doesn't offer payment plans. Why do I have to pay 100% of all tution NOW, in November? I remember when I went for a minute in Ohio, you paid 25% down to register, 25% down within 2 weeks and it had to be paid in full before day 1.

Sure, they have financial aid, but apparently I am not eligible for it right now. Even for a FA loan. I filled out the FAFSA in Sept, well before the Nov 15 deadline. I got the FAFSA email back that said what my EFC was, I thought I was good. So I waited and waited..didn't hear anything from my college for about a month. Finally, I go up there earlier this month and they were like..Oh, we sent you an email to your college account, you need to bring in your 1040 and then we will process that and it will be 10 business days to see. I was asking, so is this going to make the deadline, and said probably not. I am annoyed as heck, because why did I even bother with the FAFSA online if I have to do the tax crap with them anyway. And I haven't even taken any classes with them yet, all I did was apply, I had NO idea what my college email account WAS, let alone to check it. I know NOW, but ugh. I wish they would have sent me a letter in the mail or called me to tell me to bring in my 1040. I could have done that right away. I get that that takes money and resources, but still. I filled out the FAFSA in September 2 months early for nothing, and I was really hoping to get financial aid.

So now I have to pay OOP for the spring semester, and no payment plans are offered. It seems like a double whammy.

[Stacerita]

Originally Posted by glitterkittyy

I haven't read all the posts, but yes, in summary, it sucks.

But what can be done to fix it? The Universities have had their federal funding cut, their state funding cut and research grant funding cut. So what choice do they have?

You are my hero glitterkittyy.....I guess it is all about you afterall.