Infographic by Michael Uribes/The Collegian
A budget reduction proposed by Governor Jerry Brown forecasts even tougher times for Fresno State students and faculty.
Fresno State President John Welty announced last week that under Gov. Brown’s proposal, the California State University system would take another 18 percent reduction, amounting to an approximate $28 million cut for Fresno State.
“This reduction ”” on top of what we have already experienced ”” is devastating,” Welty said.
Included among the cuts Welty announced would be immediately implemented are hiring and travel restrictions, limits on major purchases and maintenance projects and possible enrollment limits for 2011-2012. In addition, the university summer program will be “self-funded” rather than state-funded.
“Unfortunately we cannot accomplish this reduction without making extraordinary changes,” Welty said. “Everything must be on the table as we examine the future. We also must act now to minimize the level of disruption for the future.”
This announcement comes shortly after a recent decision to hike tuition by a combined 15 percent for those attending Fresno State this upcoming spring and fall semesters. As expected, this decision has not generated a positive response.
“It came at the worst time. It’s already hard to be a full-time student,” English major Jorge Gonzales said. In regards to the decision, Gonzales said he “wasn’t surprised, it’s just another low that the students don’t need at this time.”
Pachia Vang, a dietetics major at Fresno State, vented her frustration on the subject. “It kind of angers me; shouldn’t an education be cheaper because we’re the future generation?” Vang asked. “It seems like things are just getting more and more expensive.”
This rise in cost could cause those that hope to transfer to or begin their college education at Fresno State to become overwhelmed about the higher price tag or skeptical about the school’s integrity. “They’ve raised it three times now; by the time I get there, it might double and that money may just go toward raises,” Joseph Draper, a student at Fresno City College, said. “It’s not preventing me from going, though.”
For some students, however, the price hike isn’t getting them that worried. “It’s not that bad, I get a lot of financial aid,” Lolita Blounyavong, a second year undeclared student at Fresno State, said.
The hike has pushed some students to make changes in their college plans before any more increases in tuition come into effect. “If I have to, I’ll try to get a few long scholarships or another job,” Gonzales said. Blounyavong added, “I think I’m going to take 15 units now and possibly summer school.”
While these hikes do put financial stress on students, they will ensure that the classes the students need in order to graduate will be there for them when they need them. In recent semesters, numerous students had to hold off graduation in order to complete classes that were previously cancelled.
Don Leet, professor of economics at Fresno State, added that this situation could have been avoided “only if we were willing to cut other areas like K-12 education or aid for low income folks or some other area.”
Leet continued noting that there are possible solutions to lessening these costs.
“The only idea that might work is a new severance tax on oil and natural gas extraction,” Leet said. “There is a movement to tie the revenue from this tax to higher education.”
In retrospect, this is clearly not the first time that the price for higher education has increased for students at Fresno State. But with thoughts being set on balancing school with work and for many, paying rent, this has caught students off guard that already have plates full of obligations.
For those who have negative feelings, they can look at this situation compared to the situation overseas in the United Kingdom; it doesn’t come off as severe.
“An estimated 50,000 students, lecturers and supporters took part in the demonstration against the ruling coalition’s policy of charging students up to $14,500 a year for their education from 2012,” Theunis Bates, contributor to AOL News, said.
This demonstration turned into violent protest that resulted in arrests, injuries and property damage to the exterior and interior of the Conservative Party headquarters. Prior to this decision, the cost of annual tuition was $5,300 for students.
While the events surrounding this dispute are without a doubt unfortunate, it’s safe to say that students at Fresno State could have it a lot worse. “College education is still a bargain in California compared to state college costs in other states,” Leet said.