Fee Increase in Fall 2010 & Possible Additional Action in November, 2010

Dear Student,

You may have heard recently of the firm resolve of both the Governor and the California Legislature to protect funding for higher education in this state. This is welcome news and means that our message is getting through. Nevertheless, while the budget has not yet been enacted, the Governor’s current proposal still assumes a 10% increase in CSU student fees. Under this circumstance, the CSU Board of Trustees met on June 18, 2010 to consider an increase in student fees. Regrettably, the Board must make its decision before the final budget is known. At the time of the meeting, the Assembly budget committee had advanced a proposal for the state to provide additional funding to CSU to replace 5% of fee revenue, which would allow the Board to increase fees 5%, rather than the 10% contemplated in the Governor’s budget.

At the June 18 meeting the Board took the following fee actions, which will take effect in the Fall 2010 term:

-Increased the State University fee by 5% or $4230 per academic year for 6.1 or more units, and $2454 per academic year for 6 or less units

-Increased the fee for credential program participants by 5% or $4908 per academic year for 6.1 or more units, and $2850 per academic year for 6 or less units

-Increased the fee for graduate and other post-baccalaureate students by 5% or $5214 per academic year for 6.1 or more units, and $3024 per academic year for 6 units or less

-Increased the Graduate Business Professional fee by 5% or $220 per semester unit and $147 per quarter unit

-Increased the Education Doctorate program fee by 10% or $9546 per academic year, to bring it closer in line with what is already charged by the UC Regents

-Raised the cap on the non-resident tuition schedule, to eliminate current inadvertent subsidies of those taking more than 30 semester units or 45 quarter units per academic year, to $372 per semester unit and $248 per quarter unit

The CSU makes every effort to keep student costs to a minimum. However, fees listed in published schedules or student accounts may need to be increased when public funding is inadequate. CSU has reserved the right, even after initial fee payments are made, to increase or modify listed fees, without notice, until the date when instruction for a particular semester or quarter has begun.

With an increase in State University Grants, Cal Grants, Pell Grant awards, funding for work/study and newly expanded federal tax credits, many CSU students will be helped with these additional costs. You should consult with campus financial aid officers to determine your own eligibility.

While it is good news that the Board was able to keep the State University fee increase to 5%, the Board also resolved because of the precarious budget situation to review at its meeting in November 2010 whether adequate funds have indeed been provided by the Legislature and the Governor in the 2010-11 Budget Act, and to determine whether any additional fee increases are required.

Let your Legislature know what you think http://www.legislature.ca.gov/