Matt Pratt, a student who attends Shasta College, wants to transfer to Chico State University next year. The problem is there is a rise in tuition by 10% or $222 per semester tuition. Increasing the tuition by 10% it will discourage students from transferring to Universities in California.
The tuition rate in California is increasing way too fast and what California doesn’t understand is that they are hurting students from attending colleges in their own state. For example, the average annual cost to enroll at one of the CSU campuses will be $6,422, not including dorm fees, books, supplies, campus fees, and any other stuff students need (redding.com 2011). The CSU officials say the fee increases were necessary after the governor and state legislature approved cutting $650 million dollars from the University system’s annual budget. California’s legislative analyst projects state revenues will be $3.7 billion behind the rosy projections legislators used to balance this year’s budget. A shortfall that big would trigger another $100 million in cuts to each university system and a more than $1-billion reduction in funding for K-12 education.
Tuition will go up 9 percent, almost $500, for Cal State students next fall. The hike is part of a budget proposal that also asks the state to restore more than $330 million in funding to the university.
This fall, undergraduate tuition for California residents at UC’s will rise to $12,192, more than 18 percent higher than last year’s $10,302 – a level that prompted violent student protests. With a mandatory campus fee that averages $1,026, a year at UC now costs $13,218 before room and board.
As president of Shasta College student senate, Pratt said he has participated in statewide efforts to stop the fee increases, such as marching at the state capitol and working on resolutions by the student’s senate for California community colleges urging the state legislature to pass taxes that would make it unnecessary for fee increases (articles.latimes 2011). Lianne Richelieu, director of College Options in Redding said the fee increases make it harder to do her job. College Options works with schools in the North state to get more kids to continue their education after high school. Students who qualify financially can still receive grants and scholarships to attend CSU campus, but students and parents who earn too much money face steeper payments (articles.latimes 2011). Although a community college is still a good bargain, the increasing number of students attending Shasta College has swelled course enrollment, so that not all courses are available when students want to take them.
In the end, CSU’s are increasing their tuition rates and is not fair to the students who are just trying to get their education. Over the last year the rates have increased 10% and have made it very stressful for students to find a school that has their degree, but the state of California is hoping to drop the 10% increase rate to going back to the way it to be.
Work Cited
“College Costs – Average College Tuition Cost.” College Admissions – SAT – University & College Search Tool. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Gordon, Larry. “UC Plan Sees Tuition Rising up to 16% Annually over Four Years – Los Angeles Times.” Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 15 Sept. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Gordon, Larry. “UC Tuition Hike: UC Seeks to Raise Tuition Another 10% – Los Angeles Times.” Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. 02 July 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
Click here for an explanation of the Shasta College student essay project.
Well my name is Codey Ellenwood and I’m a student at Shasta College. I am currently in Mrs. Palmers English 1c class and must say Mrs. Palmer is one of the best English teachers I have ever had and am very grateful to have her as my teacher. I am a baseball player and am trying to fulfill my dream of becoming a D.1 and a professional athlete.
A News Cafe, founded in Shasta County by Redding, CA journalist Doni Chamberlain, is the place for people craving local Northern California news, commentary, food, arts and entertainment. Views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of anewscafe.com.
