Regents approve CSU student fee hikes

By Matt Wynkoop, Bay City News Service

March 15, 2007

Fees for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of California are set to increase by 7 percent within a few months, the university's board of regents announced.

The fee increase will go into effect starting summer 2007 and was approved by a vote of 13 to 6 during a meeting at the University of California, Los Angeles, on Wednesday.

The 7 percent fee hike will translate to a $435 increase for undergraduates who meet the university's criteria for California resident status and a $483 increase for resident graduate students, the university reported.

Professional school fees will also increase, with increases of an average of 10 percent slated for University of California law and business schools.

Officials for the university reported that the fee increases are consistent with those recognized in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2007-2008 state budget as well as with the university's recent provision for annual tuition increases.

University officials said Schwarzenegger's recent budget proposal calls for a $16 million increase in Cal Grant awards to offset the new fee increases, which the university says will be entirely covered for "on-time financial aid applicants whose family incomes are lower than approximately $60,000 per year.''

University officials report that due to an ever-increasing need for the improvement of mental health services for students, UC will set aside 43 percent of the revenue generated by the registration fee's 7 percent increase -- about $4.6 million -- for upkeep and enhancement of those services.

According to a statement from the university, UC is still suffering from budget cuts over the past decade along with a continued rise in operation costs due to inflation and the need to remain competitive with other California universities.

A short-term $60 surcharge that was approved by the Regents is also scheduled to be applied to enrolled students beginning in summer 2007.

The undergraduate tuition fee for students without California residency status will also increase by 5 percent during the 2007-2008 school year, the university reported. Non resident tuition is expected to rise by $900 by the 2007-2008 school year.

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