The University of California announced today (April 26) that it will not take up the issue of an in-state tuition increase at the May meeting of the UC Board of Regents and will continue to advocate for full state funding of the university.
UC President Janet Napolitano made the announcement in consultation with Board Chair George Kieffer.
Depending on the outcome of the budget negotiations in Sacramento, the university may, at a later date, consider the issue of a modest tuition increase for the 2018-19 academic year, which financial aid would cover for more than half of UC’s California students.
“Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously,” Napolitano said. “We will continue to advocate with our students, who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state.”
The student-led advocacy efforts, done in concert with UC faculty, all 10 campuses and stakeholders throughout California, aim to secure $140 million in additional state funds beyond the 3 percent base budget increase included in the governor’s January budget.
While UC appreciates the 3 percent increase, that amount remains far below what is needed to address critical issues such as unprecedented enrollment growth, increases in instruction and student services, and pressing deferred maintenance needs.
UC now educates 90,000 more students than it did in 2000, but with the same level of state funding. The university’s message to legislators is that today's students deserve the same great University of California education that previous generations received.
Given the momentum of UC advocacy efforts, and a reported state budget surplus that is billions of dollars over projections, UC is hopeful that increased state funding will eliminate the need for a tuition increase.
Negotiations over the state budget will likely continue through May and up until the deadline for approval at the end of June.