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Now that the official state role is to “assist” public universities rather than “support” them as in the past, panelists worried that higher fees would further separate the “haves” from the “have-nots” who wish to attend college. As Associated Students President Heather Wilson pointed out, the portion of the state budget funding higher education has dipped from 17 to 11 percent while prison funding rises.
“The fees question depends on political choices,” said Professor Sonenshein. “After World War II, society made a clear statement about the value of education that lasted about 20 years. Now we’re on our own. We need to become central to the public agenda so that it’s a no-brainer to allocate funds.”
“The question of haves and have-nots is especially significant in this region,” said Dean Murray. “We have many students for whom the smallest perturbation in their own lives can ruin a semester.”
“Part of this depends on the state’s philosophy,” President Gordon pointed out. “Some states in the Midwest and on the East Coast handle these questions differently. They believe that if you make less than a certain amount, you pay nothing to go to the state university. About nine years ago, the CSU developed an outstanding five-tier funding proposal. It argued that if you were in the top fifth in terms of income, you paid full freight. If you were in the bottom fifth, you paid nothing.
It’s a gradual increase for those in between. But at the state legislature, [the proposal] went right out the window. California believes that in terms of fees, everyone should be treated the same.
“The other problem with our fee structure is its total irrationality,” he said. “Students can’t predict what they will pay on a year-to-year basis. If the fee were tied to a particular index, students and their parents could plan for that.”
President Milton A. Gordon: Rising fees and accessibility are both issues right now, and it looks as though that will not change in the immediate future. Rising fees continue to widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots, the college-bounds and those who cannot afford to attend. What can we do to assure continued accessibility to those we want to serve: first-generation college students?
Raphael Sonenshein: The fees question depends on political choices. How do we become central to the public agenda so that it’s a no-brainer that funds are allocated? We form alliances with the UCs and community colleges. After World War II, society made a clear statement about the value of education that lasted about 20 years. Now we’re on our own. It’s not a partisan question; it’s a public policy issue.
Heather Williams: Students are concerned about this. In California, 17 percent of the General Fund used to go to higher education; now it’s 11 percent. Clearly the state has lowered its priority for higher education. Legislators say they don’t want to raise taxes. In lobbying, we explain that they are raising
taxes in effect on a certain part of the middle class even though it will benefit the state as a whole.
Steve Murray: The question about the haves and have-nots is especially significant in this region. We have many students for whom the smallest perturbation in their own lives can ruin a semester.
President Milton A. Gordon: Part of this is a state philosophy. [Some] other states believe that if you make less than a certain amount, you pay nothing to go to the state university. About nine years ago, the CSU developed an outstanding five-tier funding proposal. It argued that if you were in the top fifth in terms of income, you paid full freight. If you were in the bottom fifth, you paid nothing. [Other tiers paid] a graduated increase. But [at the] state legislature, the proposal went right out the window. California believes that in terms of fees, everyone should be treated the same. The other problem with our fee structure is its total irrationality. Students can’t predict what they will pay on a year-to-year basis. If the fee were tied to a particular index, students and their parents could plan for that.
