2008 Woodie Awards
Legislature responds to students, discusses tuition woes
Karla Rivas
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Campus
As students across California gather signatures for the student-led ballot initiative Tuition Relief Now, an identical bill is making its way through the Legislature.
On March 25, the Higher Education committee in Sacramento voted to approve Assembly Bill 2372, the College Affordability Act of 2008. The Taxation and Revenue Committee will hear the bill on Monday, April 28.
The language on the bill was identical to what was on the ballot. If passed, the law would generate more than $2 billion in revenue for public education in California by imposing a one-percent tax increase on individual incomes that exceed $1 million.
According to Section 1, Article 3.5 of the College Affordability Act of 2008, areas eligible for funding include, "student instructional materials, new technology, student scholarships and grants, libraries, campus safety improvements, and faculty salaries."
In Section 1, Article 3.5 of the College Affordability Act of 2008, "education is the foundation of our society and maximum efforts should be made to help all students attend college."
It also declares that the state of California "has a historical commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable for all eligible students." However, since "student tuition fees…have almost doubled in the past six years," it has made it "much more difficult for California families to send their children to college."
These funds will help mitigate student fees, especially now that the California State University (CSU) budget for fiscal year 2008/2009 is being cut by $386 million.
Furthermore, the bill also states that in a recent study released by the Public Policy Institute of California, "Eighty-four percent of residents, an overwhelming share, believe college affordability is a problem."
Carrie Schaden, student representative of Prioritization Task Force and College and Natural Resources & Sciences representative, said cuts in funding and a bigger population means that there will be bigger classes and limited options in education.
On March 25, the Higher Education committee in Sacramento voted to approve Assembly Bill 2372, the College Affordability Act of 2008. The Taxation and Revenue Committee will hear the bill on Monday, April 28.
The language on the bill was identical to what was on the ballot. If passed, the law would generate more than $2 billion in revenue for public education in California by imposing a one-percent tax increase on individual incomes that exceed $1 million.
According to Section 1, Article 3.5 of the College Affordability Act of 2008, areas eligible for funding include, "student instructional materials, new technology, student scholarships and grants, libraries, campus safety improvements, and faculty salaries."
In Section 1, Article 3.5 of the College Affordability Act of 2008, "education is the foundation of our society and maximum efforts should be made to help all students attend college."
It also declares that the state of California "has a historical commitment to making higher education accessible and affordable for all eligible students." However, since "student tuition fees…have almost doubled in the past six years," it has made it "much more difficult for California families to send their children to college."
These funds will help mitigate student fees, especially now that the California State University (CSU) budget for fiscal year 2008/2009 is being cut by $386 million.
Furthermore, the bill also states that in a recent study released by the Public Policy Institute of California, "Eighty-four percent of residents, an overwhelming share, believe college affordability is a problem."
Carrie Schaden, student representative of Prioritization Task Force and College and Natural Resources & Sciences representative, said cuts in funding and a bigger population means that there will be bigger classes and limited options in education.
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