Legislature pitting one part of state vs. another
| Saturday, Sep 19 2009 08:49 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Sep 19 2009 08:51 PM
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Each of us is familiar with our state's grim economic situation. Indeed, no Californian is unaffected by the financial upheaval we have experienced in recent years. One of the areas hit hardest is one that has the ability to pull us out of this mess: education.
The California Legislature, however, has decided to neglect higher education, and the resulting financial burden has fallen on the shoulders of students, faculty and the staff of the University of California, the California State University and community college systems. Our governing boards are being forced to make undesirable changes that will devastate the future of California.
UC is already saddled with a shortfall of over $637 million during 2009-2010 -- approximately 20 percent less state funding than appropriated for 2007-2008 -- as well as a $335 million gap related to increasing costs for which the state has provided no funding over the two-year period. Similarly, the CSU faces an equally unprecedented budget shortfall of $584 million and CCC spending has been reduced by more than $680 million for 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Access is threatened. This year, our community colleges will be forced to turn away more than 250,000 students. And where are they to go? UC? CSU? The workforce? None is a viable option -- for economic and political reasons.
Affordability is threatened. Since 2000, student tuition and fees have increased a soaring 215 percent within UC, 280 percent within CSU, and 235 percent among community college systems.
Quality is threatened. Within all three segments of higher education, student services are being reduced, classes are being eliminated, and class sizes increased -- each negatively impacting the quality of the educational experience. To deal with state reductions, the UC Regents and CSU Trustees were forced to adopt furlough plans, reducing salaries of our already underpaid faculty and contributing to the potential loss of some of the best minds in the world to competitor institutions.
Our Legislature has effectively continued to abandon the greatest public higher education systems in the world. Our state has lost sight of the vision of its Master Plan for Higher Education and has significantly threatened educational opportunity and excellence for all Californians. Both the state and our elected officials must be reminded that education is an investment and an engine for economic and social mobility. In order for the state to remain competitive, it must reinvest in education.
While the state pits our segments against one another economically, today we stand together with a common message. Collectively, we call on all Californians to protect our education and the institutions that drive our economy, culture, and everything that makes our state so great. As the 2010 election approaches, partner with us to vote for an affordable, accessible, high-quality education.
Russel D. Statham, a graduate student at Fresno State, is the student trustee for the California State University system.
