On Tuesday Sept. 12th, CSU Board of Trustees will vote on the multi-year tuition proposal.
By Izabella Garcia
On May 25th, 2023, the process to increase tuition began with a written proposal to the CSSA. It has continued with the necessary consultation with, and feedback from, other CSU stakeholders.
At the July 2023 Board of Trustees meeting, a multi-year tuition proposal was released.
As one of the long-term financial sustainability solutions, the multi-year tuition proposal will apply to the following systemwide tuition and fee categories: systemwide tuition, nonresident tuition and the graduate business professional fee (for simplicity purposes, these will be referred to collectively as “tuition”). Under the proposal:
• Tuition increases would begin with the 2024-25 academic year.
• Annual tuition increases would apply to all students at every level of education.
• Tuition would increase six percent each year for all students.
• Tuition increases would continue to consider the longstanding trustee policy to maintain differential pricing between undergraduate and graduate/post-baccalaureate tuition levels.
• The first increase in 2024-25 would be $342 for the academic year for full-time undergraduate students.
• The Board would review the tuition rate schedule every five years.
Additionally, the information item indicated possible action to take place at the September 2023 board meeting – which the CSU’s Board of Trustees will follow through by voting to approve the tuition raises on Sept. 12th.
In light of the propositions, students have begun to collectivize to prevent the raises in tuition. From petition to protests, collective efforts can be found among a number of State clubs, including the Movimiento Estudiantil para Liberación de las Américas (MELA), Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA), and League of Filipino Students (LFS)
Geneve Nguyen, an active member of San Francisco State’s League of Filipino Students describes the universal frustration felt by students, stating “Most people I know are already juggling several jobs on top of school to afford attendance. It feels incredibly audacious that administration dares trying to raise tuition on us when most students are struggling to afford the existing prices.”
“It’s been a very busy and exhausting time helping campaign and organize towards trying to make sure the csu board doesn’t vote yes on tuition hikes,” Nguyen, adds, “We’ve been coordinating with many orgs and people about going down to Long Beach and I’m really excited to show up with everyone and voice our feelings.”
Similarly, Cami Dominguez, Co-Chair for the Young Democratic Socialists of America, solidifies the alliance between clubs, confirming that “Right now YDSA’s priority is the tuition hike, but we are also actively organizing around housing and CFA. LFS and MELA have been super active around these issues too so we’re united as a student org front.”.
Students interested in opposing the tuition increase are able to join MELA, LFS, YDSA, and AS on Monday, September 11th at 12 p.m. in Malcolm X Plaza to rally against the CSU proposition. Additionally, students are able to request to speak virtually during the Board of Trustees meeting by emailing trusteesecretariat@calstate.edu before Sept. 11. Public comments will begin Sept. 12 at 9 a.m.
If interested, students may also sign the petition link circulating below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScDE-vhcM6slp-LV4Q5CjxnJV3BEv-UTsuZUofRnvyQgUfiQg/viewform?pli=1