Spring 2007 – #CB S07-03
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PLACING A GREATER FOCUS ON HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE GOVERNOR’S 2007-2008 BUDGET
Authored by: Jeremy Ehrlich
WHEREAS, San Diego State University Associated Students is the representative body, and the official voice of the more than 34,000 students at San Diego State University; and
WHEREAS, it is the mission of Associated Students to represent, serve, and protect the collective interests of the students, specifically affordability and accessibility of higher education, at San Diego State University; and
WHEREAS, San Diego State University students’ fees have increased from $935 to $1588 per semester (nearly 70%) in only 5 years, and with the proposed augmentation, student fees will have increased 85% since 2002; and
WHEREAS, in order to protect the future of California’s workforce, the state must maintain the quality and accessibility of higher education which entails providing SDSU with adequate funding; and
WHEREAS, according to The California Post Secondary Education Commission’s Keeping College Affordable (Dec 2006), all Californians benefit from a well educated population and a world-class postsecondary system; and
WHEREAS, support for higher education has slipped from 17% of the state general fund budget in 1976 to 11% in 2006; and
WHEREAS, a declining public commitment to pay the costs of postsecondary education has forced higher education institutions to look elsewhere for financing; and
WHEREAS, the result is that students are paying a greater share of higher education costs and to pay those costs they are assuming greater debt; and
WHEREAS, when cuts to CSU have been rendered in past years, student services such as Outreach have been the first to be minimized, affecting not only the ability for many students to even attend SDSU, but essential aspects to the success and graduation of the State of California’s educated workforce as well; and
WHEREAS, although the California Master Plan for Education guarantees affordable access to a quality higher education, these fees are equivalent to a regressive tax on the middle class – those who do not qualify for financial aid, but are unable to pay for college with their given means consequently preventing thousands of students the accessibility to obtain a degree; and therefore be it
RESOLVED, the Associated Students of San Diego State University strongly urges the Legislature and the Governor to approve CSU’s request for the $65 million Revenue Augmentation in order to protect the affordability and accessibility of higher education for all students and their families; and be it further
RESOLVED, the Associated Students of San Diego State University will continue with lobby efforts on all fronts to make certain that higher education is affordable and accessible for all students and their families; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the State of California and all entities invested in preserving the quality of education put focus back onto the issues of higher education specifically, but not restricted to, affordability, accessibility, and student services such as outreach; and finally be it
RESOLVED, that copies be distributed widely, including, but not limited to, University Senate SDSU, San Diego State University President Stephen L. Weber, the CSU Budget Advisory Committee, Academic Senate CSU, the Assembly and Senate Budget Committees, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, CSU Associated Students, University of California Student Association, United States Student Association, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
