Student Fee Policy

AS-2671-04/FGA - September 9-10, 2004

ATTACHMENT TO AS-2671-04/FGA
ATTACHMENT TO AS-2671-04/FGA

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) continue its support of the goals expressed in the California Master Plan for Higher Education which state, among other things, that California should ensure that those eligible shall have affordable access to higher education of high quality; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU affirm the principle that higher education is an essential public good and that the preponderance of its cost should be met through public funding; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU reaffirm the guidelines expressed in AS-2631-03/FGA and the long-term undergraduate student fee policy expressed in AS-2644-04/FGA; and be it further

RESOLVED: That, given the "Compact" of 2004 has already established a schedule of fee increases over the next three years, the Academic Senate CSU call upon the Chancellor's Office to form a committee made up of representatives of the Academic Senate CSU, system and campus administrators, and representatives from the California State Student Association to study the issue of student fees with a goal of determining the appropriate share of the cost of education that should be borne by undergraduate and graduate students in following years and presenting a plan for reaching this goal.

RATIONALE: Determining the portion of the cost of an education that is to be borne by students is a complicated issue requiring a great deal of study. For example, the current fee structure of the California State University may limit the degree of federal funding available for supporting higher education. The Governor and CSU administration have entered into a compact that will determine fee increases for undergraduate and graduate education over the next three years. This will allow for sufficient time for the CSU to study this issue.