The Skyline View regrets an error that was published in our print edition. Tuition will be increased to $26 per unit, not $30 as was originally reported.
A proposal has been made to increase tuition fees by 30 percent starting next semester, according to state organizations.
The Community College League of California [CCLC] is a non-profit organization that represents the state’s community colleges. According to the league, the proposal was made by the Legislative Analysts Office [LAO]. The LAO, which oversees the state’s executive branch, proposed the 30 percent tuition increase to be implemented in mid-May, when the Governor submits his revision of the state budget.
For Skyline College students, a 30 percent increase would cause tuition fees to be raised from $20 per unit, to $26 per unit.This proposal comes in the wake of Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposal to cut all state-department funding by 10 percent and the rejection of Proposition 92, which would have decreased tuition fees and regulated tuition increases for community colleges.
According to the Director of Fiscal Policy at the college league Teresa Tena, the tuition increase is just a proposal and hasn’t been considered as of yet.
“This is a preliminary recommendation which still needs to be looked at,” Tena said. “There have been many times that the LAO has put out recommendations that are simply not embraced by legislation.”
According to Tena, the process has just begun and the college league is ready to advocate for community college students.
“We are not supportive of it,” Tena said. “We are concerned because higher tuition fees may result in a decrease of student enrollment.”
According to SMCCCD District Executive Vice Chancellor Jim Keller, the state is “scrambling” to resolve the budget crisis and even though the tuition increase was proposed, it may not be accepted. “These types of things are proposed all the time,” Keller said. “Not many are accepted.”
Due to a mounting state deficit of over $16 ½ billion, it is speculated by members of the Associated Students of Skyline College that community colleges of California are becoming the scapegoat to resolve its debt. According to the ASSC Senator Bob Alberts, there is virtually no question if the tuition will go up.
“The state is hard up for cash,” Alberts said. “They [the state] look at community colleges first because we are the most efficient. We’re going to get hit.”Because tuition increases are decided through the state government and legislature, the district is waiting for further information regarding tuition fees.
According to the District Director of Community and Government Relations Barbara Christensen, it is still too early to discuss specific details, but it is important to be involved in the process.
“We are always concerned when fees are increased because it restricts access to students,” Christensen said. “It is important for student’s voices to be heard.”
The voices of Skyline students, however, seem to be diverse. According to Eric Crafton, 21, who takes one unit at Skyline as a night student, it could be worse.
“I don’t feel it’s that bad,” Crafton said. “It’s not that much of an increase, but I do feel that the Arnold and the government should find other ways (to resolve the state’s debt).”
However, some Skyline students feel strongly against the proposal. Lucy Alvarez, 21, who takes 17 units at Skyline, thinks the proposal is wrong and unfair against community college students.
“It sucks,” Alvarez said. “Students are probably going to have to get two or three jobs just to make up for the tuition increase.”
Whatever the reaction is, it is clear that tuition fees are an issue. At all levels, state, district, and community, the issue of increasing tuition has only just begun. If you would like to take action to stop a future tuition increase you can contact your local representatives. For further information regarding this issue please contact the SMCCCD District.
