Associated Press
Posted on 01/18/2006 6:12:39 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SAN DIEGO – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared at the University of California Board of Regents meeting at UCSD Wednesday morning to tout his proposed freeze of student fee increases at the state's public colleges and universities.
In an appearance on the La Jolla campus, the governor praised the UC system as a "crown jewel" and asked its regents to help him get the Legislature to support his proposed state budget.
Schwarzenegger has proposed canceling a hefty fee increase that had been scheduled to take effect this year at University of California and California State University campuses, largely because economic growth is providing an unexpected jump in the state's tax income.
Undergraduates at UC campuses pay about $6,700 in systemwide and campus fees a year, while CSU undergraduates pay about $3,200 – and both were facing an 8 percent increase in the fall. UC graduate students were facing a 10 percent fee increase and professional school fees were to jump 5 percent.
The governor said rolling back the proposed fee increases would help to provide "stability and predictability" for students and parents planning for college.
"I want to take advantage of our economic recovery and help the students. They should share the California comeback as much as anyone else," Schwarzenegger told the regents.
The governor said his budget proposal commits an extra $130 million to the UC and CSU budgets so student would get relief after four straight years of fee increases.
"For California to achieve its potential, we must make sure that our young people achieve their potential," he said.
Gerald Parsky, chair of the UC Regents, praised the governor for working with university leaders on financing issues.
"We along with our students and their families are very grateful for funds that you propose to buy out student fees for next year," Parsky said. "When we entered into a compact with you, you said it would be a floor, not a ceiling. And when more revenues became available, you honored that commitment. In brief, you are a hero."
The regents' meeting at the University of California San Diego
* applause *
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