The State Budget Crisis and You

1
The State Budget Crisis and You
Presented By X Student with the External Vice
Presidents Office on February _, 2009
Information compiled by the University of
California Student Association
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INTRODUCTION FRAMING THE STATE BUDGET CRISIS

• For almost a decade weve seen the cost of higher
  education in California skyrocket. The rising
  cost of higher education has far reaching
  implications both for YOU on campus and for the
  future of California. Today, students are paying
  more and getting less.
• Vital student services are being cut as a result
  of these budget cuts and qualified students are
  not able to access the UC
• This Powerpoint is designed to help explain the
  current state of the Budget Crisis and how YOU
  can get involved to impact the budget process
• We are powerful when we organizeeven as we face
  a huge crisis, there are many ways for students
  to get involved!

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WHAT IS THE UC STUDENT ASSOCIATION?

• UCSA is a student run, student led organization.
  Established in 1971, UCSA is the official voice
  of UC students to the State Legislature, UC
  Regents, and University of California Office of
  the President
• We are a systemwide coalition of undergrad and
  graduate UC student governments that run
  grassroots campaigns for access, affordability,
  and quality of the UC System.
• We believe that Education is a Right and that
  building statewide student power is critical in
  changing the UC system
• For decades, UCSA has been at the forefront of
  protesting these Budget Cuts. We are ready to
  fight again.

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WHERE WE ARE NOW THE STATE OF THE UC STUDENT IN
2009

• Fees have doubled in the past five years.
  Undergrads now pay 8,100 in student fees, but
  their total cost of attendance (housing books,
  etc) is over 25,300
• According to the National College Board,
  financial barriers alone prevent nearly one-half
  of all college-qualified low- and moderate-income
  high school graduates from enrolling in a
  four-year program of college
• The average undergrad student graduates with
  20,000 in debt
• 1 in 4 full-time students work more than 20
  hours, which is considered unreasonable
• 44 of the average students education is funded
  through loans and/or working jobs, because of
  increasing fees and the lack of support from
  grants
• This generation of students is one of the first
  to be in a worse economic situation than that of
  their parents

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THE STATE OF THE UC STUDENT IN 2009 Continued

• At the current rate of funding California will
  become the first state where prison funding will
  outpace all higher education funding in the year
  2012
• Although they qualify for in-state tuition,
  undocumented students continue to be shut out of
  the financial aid system. Currently, they pay
  into the Return-to-Aid financial program, but are
  not eligible to receive any of the benefits
• Recruitment/Retention of Students of Color
• Although the University has researched and made
  findings towards improving the diversity on
  campus, it still remains a large problem.
• Due to proposed cuts in enrollment growth, less
  students of color are expected to be admitted
  into the UC. African-American enrollment will be
  expected to decrease by 5.4-8

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STATE OF THE UC IN 2009

• State General Funds are the major revenue source
  for the UC
• Since 1990, the state per-student funding has
  fallen 40
• The state spends 2,470 less per student today
  than it did back in 1990 (in 2006-2007 constant
  dollars) and students are now paying 30 of
  their education today as opposed to only 13 in
  the early 1990s
• The UC has the highest proportion of low-income
  students among the countrys top research
  universities. The Office of the President
  estimates that the UC gives out more than 1
  billion in financial aid
• For every dollar spent on the UC, the state
  profits 3 in return. There are over 1 million UC
  graduates currently in the state of California
• More than 80 of Californians surveyed by the
  Public Policy Institute of California called the
  cost of higher education a problem

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HOW THE MONEY GETS FROM THE STATE TO YOUR CAMPUS

• The State
• In January the Governor proposes a budget
• The Governors Budget gets proposed as a bill in
  the Legislature. The Legislature then holds
  hearings and modifies the Budget
• The BIG FIVE (Governor, Senate and Assembly
  Majority/Minority Leaders) reconcile the budgets
• In theory, the State Budget is passed and signed
  by September 30th
• The UC Regents
• The UC Regents are constitutionally autonomous
  according to the California Constitution, so they
  get to decide how to allocate the money given by
  the Legislature
• The University Office of the President presents
  an allocation of the Budget that the Regents then
  vote on
• UC Chancellors
• Chancellors then get to allocate money on their
  campus. They will often ask departments or
  resource centers to make cuts

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THE CURRENT CRISIS HOW AND WHY?

• Many of the current cuts you are experiencing
  came from the 2008-2009 budget where the State
• Cut 48 million to the UC and proposed an
  additional 65.5 million mid-year cut
• 7.4 Tuition Increase
• No Funding for Enrollment Growth
• This year the Governor is proposing
• 9.3 tuition increase
• This will bring the total cost of a UC undergrad
  education to 26,104
• 209.9 million cut to the UC
• Eliminating funding for enrollment growth
• 87.5 million cut to CalGrants
• Eliminating new Competitive CalGrant Program
  awards
• Decoupling CalGrants Fee increases are normally
  covered under the Cal Grant. They are proposing
  to not have the CalGrant expand to the same
  degree as a proposed fee increase

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HOW WHAT HAPPENS IN SAC AFFECTS YOU ON CAMPUS

• In 2008, each campus was expected to cut 10 from
  their budget.
• This led to changes in
• Resource Centers
• Overall Quality
• Since 2003-2004 student services have been cut
  and have never been restored back to that amount
• The Budget also eliminated funding for the UCs
  two Labor Programs
• In the Governors Proposed 09-10 Budget
• These cuts will continue
• Enrollment Growth!!
• Last year the UC Regents voted to continue
  enrollment growth despite not receiving adequate
  funding from the State
• This year the UC Regents have voted to cut
  enrollment growth by 2300 students if they do not
  get the money from the state. Currently the UC
  does not have money to properly support and
  retain those extra students. These cuts to
  enrollment will hurt access to Californian
  students

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HOW HAVE WE WON IN THE PAST?

• Although students have faced many uphill battles,
  UCSA has been successful in winning real
  victories for students. Through a mix of advocacy
  and grassroots organizing we have
• Restored funding to outreach programs in 2003
• In 2003, 2 UCSA Board members sued the Regents
  (and won!) for raising professional fees
• Successfully raised the Return-to-Aid Financial
  Program from 25 to 33 for the 2006-2007 school
  year
• Won a Fee Freeze in 2006
• Lobbied to get a proposed 10 fee hike off of the
  table for the 2008-2009 school year
• Registered over 42,000 students to vote in 2008
  General Election (the largest statewide
  nonpartisan youth effort)

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HOW YOU CAN IMPACT THE BUDGET

• We can win again. We have to take our fight to
  the State.
• UCSA is introducing a smart piece of fee
  legislation
• College Affordability Act of 2009
• Freezes fees for 5 years for resident undergrads
  UC and CSU students
• Prevents any future fee increases from surpassing
  the inflation index
• Raises revenue by a 1 tax on millionaires
  income

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HOW YOU CAN IMPACT THE BUDGET CONTINUED

• Why the CAA of 09?
• After years of being on the defense, its time to
  go on the offense!
• This year the Board of Regents did NOT submit a
  fee increase in their budget to the Legislature,
  so this bill is in line with that proposal
• This bill is about investing in people. This is
  NOT a bailout for banks or corporations. These
  are people who worked hard to go to college and
  are now struggling to stay in school.
• Not only is it a sound investment, it is the best
  one that California can make to create an
  educated workforce.
• Cost should NOT be a barrier to anyone in
  attending higher education, this will help expand
  access to students across the state

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WE NEED STUDENTS AT EVERY POINT IN THE CAMAPIGN
CAA TIMELINE
Phase 1 Bill Goes Through Assembly Committees
Pass through same committees on Senate side
Phase 1 Get Bill Introduced
Pass Assembly Floor by 2/3 Vote
Governor Signs Bill
Pass Through Assembly Approps
Pass Through Assembly Rev Tax
Pass Through Assembly Higher Ed
By 2/29/09
By 5/1/09
By 6/5/09
By 10/11/09
By 5/29/09
By 9/11/09
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HOW WE ARE GOING TO WIN GET INVOLVED

• This is going to be a big fight and we need to
  engage a large number of students to impact the
  budget process
• Postcards!
• Sign a postcard and volunteer!
• Student Lobby Conference
• The 6th Annual Lobby Conference will be held in
  Sacramento from Feb 28th March 2nd.
• Issue and skill-based workshops relating to
  higher education
• March 2nd Lobby day and Action. Confront
  decision makers and lobby for increased funding
  for higher education and the passage of the CAA
• Tell your story to legislators and hold them
  accountable
• In-District Lobbying
• Testify at a Legislative Hearing
• Continued grassroots tactics to target
  legislators
• Participate in statewide actions
• Volunteer or join the EVP office

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WANT MORE INFORMATION?

• Your Contact Info/EVP Office
• University of California Student Association
• 385 Grand Ave, St 302
• Oakland, CA 94606
• 510-834-8272
• ucsa.org

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MORE RESOURCES

• To learn more about the information found in this
  presentation please refer to
• UC Student Association ucsa.org
• University Office of the President ucop.org
• The National College Board ww.collegeboard.com/co
  mingtooursenses
• The National Center for Public Policy and Higher
  Education highereducation.org
• The ACLU of Northern California aclunc.org
• Time Magazine time.com
• Public Policy Institute of California
  www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i848