California Plans to Gut Higher Education

March 4, 2010 Higher Ed Demonstration by SpotReporting

Jerry Brown’s plan to slash $1.4 billion from higher education in California will have dire consequences for students, teachers and staff at the UC, CSU and community college systems. The three systems will have to lay off thousands of employees, cut classes, and gut services. And this is assuming voters approve a tax increase for themselves in June. Otherwise, the cuts could far surpass the initial estimate of $1.4 billion.

California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott said that the cutbacks will result in 350,000 students being unable to enroll in any classes within the 112 school system. The community college system is among the cheapest in the nation, and will continue to be, even with the $10 per unit fee hike that will be implemented next year. For many of California’s unemployed, it has become a refuge where they can use their time constructively and learn new job skills while waiting for the job market to pick up again. However, with the cuts and losses of teachers and course offerings, many will lose this opportunity.

March 4, 2010 Higher Ed Demonstration by SpotReporting

At the California State University system, which will lose $500 million next year, Chancellor Charles B. Reed said they would consider reducing enrollment, eliminating classes, laying off staff, furloughing employees and increasing class sizes. He did not rule out tuition hikes, either. They have already approved a 5% increase for this year and an additional 10% hike for fall 2011, bringing undergraduate tuition to $4,884 per year, plus an additional $1,000 for campus fees.

UC, likewise, did not rule out further tuition hikes. They already raised tuition by 8% in November, bringing the full cost for a year at UC to $30,000. This does not include the costs of food and housing, which at many UC schools, especially UC Berkeley and UCSF, can run an additional $20,000 per year. Between 1990 and 2009, tuition increased by 277%, and then it went up an additional 32% last year.