Dangerous UC Tuition Hikes
Students at the University of California at Davis protested today by refusing to vacate the administration building on campus. What they were protesting is potentially dangerous to all of us – massive undergraduate tuition hikes, upwards of 32 percent.
The hike was voted and approved by the California Board of Regents, a group of out-of-touch “University Elders” who make financial decisions which ultimately affect thousands of families with children in college. When asked for a comment from the school, a UC Davis spokesperson was quoted as merely saying “I hope campus police can resolve the issue without needing to make arrests.”
Similar protests took place at other University of California schools protesting the huge cost increase, which could take place as early as this winter semester. The hikes will affect all University of California students at all 10 UC campuses. While regents and other university officials claim the hikes are necessary, along with deep budget cuts to quell the UC system’s $500+ million deficit, students and families of middle to low-income families say the cuts will drive many out of an education.
“Shame on you” cried students to an exiting regent member, and not without just cause. Faculty members were among students as well, protesting tuition hikes, ever-growing class sizes, salary cuts and mandatory furloughs.
As a public institution, the University of California education system is becoming more and more like a private institution, as class fees drive lower income families and students away from the possibility of gaining an education at a top-tier university. It’s a perplexing situation – fees are already comparatively high for a public system and student loans (especially large loans) are more difficult to get than they used to be, cuts are being made that are already disenfranchising existing faculty – what are university officials to do?
I don’t have an end-all be-all solution, but ending tuition hikes (at least while the economy is in a rut) should be the regents’ number one priority. When students cannot afford a public university education, the system has already failed, period. If students are forced to suspend their education (or are discouraged enough to not attend to begin with), our generation will suffer deep, everlasting consequences. Solutions must be made that are agreeable to the public, that serve the public’s best interest, and that are in part decided upon by the public. When regent boards make drastic decisions that hurt the majority – as the University of California Board of Regents did today – they are not serving the student body. Tuition hikes are an “easy out” to budget problems, which hurt America’s public education system as a whole.
It’s time that the UC system tried to balance the budget and make the cost of education more adequately address the cost of delivering it. They’ve cut salaries and other expenses, I’m sure their endowment has suffered. We live in a capitalistic society. If you’re a really good student, I’m sure that you will receive scholarships that will more than make up for the increased fees. A university needs to be for the elite (academic elite) and not for the masses. If they want schooling, then they’ll have to pay for it and go to the CalState system or a community college. This move will remove undesirable students who don’t contribute to the intellectual climate of the UC system.
Reply to this comment
“A university needs to be for the elite” – you obviously don’t understand the concept of a public education system.
The University of California is a public university, which was established to serve the public. “Elite” education institutions are private, which is why we have both public and private universities.
Also, I’m assuming you have not been enrolled in a university as of late – scholarships are increasingly sparse, especially in public university bursar offices. Great grades and extra-curriculars no longer guarantee any financial assistance of any kind.
Reply to this comment
In Canada there are only public universities – a welcome change from the “money” temples of the United States. Unfortunately, I partially agree with Monica that higher public eduction needs to be available not to everyone but only to the most well-qualified. If you let “everyone” in you’re devaluing a university education. This will begin the race towards ever higher degrees (MBAs and PhDs spring to mind). One thing and only one thing should enable you to attend a public university (if you’re a resident of the state) — are you among the most qualified (academically + extra-curricular activities)? If you are, then the funding must be there if you need it and you must pay the full tuition if your family can “afford” it.
Reply to this comment
No one here is saying a college education should be handed out like candy – what Nick is saying is that a college education should be accessible to all who are capable and desiring of one. There is a fundamental difference between elitism and prequalification which I don’t think Monica or “grip” understand. If a student in California is smart enough to get into college / uni, he or she shouldn’t be unable to attend because of financial constraint – which is exactly what thee tuition hikes are going to do. The only thing “elite” about university should be the academic promise of the students therein (which in my opinion still does not merit the term “elite”). A statement like “university needs to be elite” is positively absurd, especially taking into consideration the UC system is a PUBLIC university system established to serve the PUBLIC citizens of California.
If you have the brains, you should need nothing else. No one is arguing that university should take unintelligent students.
Reply to this comment