This time, UC will let CSU do it

The last time there was a clash over tuition between public higher ed and the governor and legislature, UC took the lead and CSU just sat back and watched. Apparently the situation will be reversed:

Cal State students next year might see the first tuition increase systemwide in more than five years.

Although tuition has been stable since the 2011-12 school year, members of Cal State University’s Board of Trustees are scheduled to discuss increasing tuition for the 2017-18 academic year at their next meeting Tuesday in Long Beach.

Trustees may cast votes next week to formally request nearly $5.8 billion in funding for the coming school year but aren’t expected to make any decisions on tuition levels until early next year.

Nevertheless, Cal State administrators’ desired funding level for the 2017-18 academic year would require nearly $344 million in new money, and higher tuition could be one method of bridging that gap.

A maximum annual tuition increase of up to $270 – about 5 percent of Cal State’s basic undergraduate annual tuition of $5,472 – may eventually come up for a vote. A tuition increase of that magnitude could provide about $77.5 million in new money, according to a staff report.

Faculty hiring and other costs related to a statewide push to increase graduation rates are among key factors that may result in the tuition hike, the report said.

Cal State students are planning to protest the potential tuition hikes. Cal State Los Angeles student Kat Alvarado said she and other members of a group called Students for Quality Education are preparing a theatrical protest in which they will dress up like zombies, a la “The Walking Dead.”

“We’re just going to be occupying the space and making sure our voices are heard.” Alvarado said.

Alvarado, 20, is majoring in Pan-African and Asian-American studies at the Los Angeles campus. She said $270 can be worth about three months of groceries on her budget.

Cal State spokeswoman Toni Molle said university leaders won’t seek to change tuition levels unless they cannot otherwise secure additional dollars.

“Our goal is to first advocate for the full support budget request,” Molle said in a telephone interview...

Full story at http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tuition-735254-state-cal.html