Three months from now, California will produce record numbers of high school graduates, many of whom have their hearts set on attending college this fall. Sadly, however, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed sweeping cuts to higher education funding, which, if approved by the Legislature, will have severe effects on many of these students' access to higher education. Hit particularly hard will be students hoping to attend any one of California's private colleges and universities.

While independent colleges are chartered by the state to provide higher education to the public, they are expected to do this without any state funding. Instead, they rely on private grants and voluntary gifts to augment tuition. Contrary to public perceptions, students who attend independent colleges are as economically diverse as those attending tax-subsidized institutions. In fact, the median family income of families in the University of California system -- the most heavily subsidized of California's higher education systems -- is much higher than that of families whose children are enrolled in the private sector.

Each year, more and more low-income, deserving students gain access to higher education because of programs like the Cal Grant, which awards state-funded monetary grants to students to help pay for expenses at the college of their choice. Many students attending independent colleges and universities qualify for Cal Grant funds, which are awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need.

Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting Cal Grant awards for new recipients at independent colleges and universities by a staggering 44 percent (from $9,708 down to $5,482) beginning with this fall. At the same time, he is leaving the Cal Grant program untouched for students who attend tax-subsidized universities. These cuts are disproportionate and are contrary to the governor's recent campaign platform of "fairness."

According to the Association for Independent California Colleges and Universities, for every California resident who attends an independent college with a maximum level Cal Grant, two additional California resident students who do not consume any state subsidy attend the college. Conversely, the state subsidizes the costs for every student in the public sector, regardless of family income. Thus, UC students pay 30 percent of the cost, and CSU students pay only 20 percent.

The governor also wants to lower the income eligibility threshold by 10 percent, a change that would make fewer middle-income students eligible for Cal Grants. In the last four years, although the dollar level of the maximum Cal Grant award has remained constant, the value of the award has declined in relation to the rising costs. Not only do these two proposed changes stand to negatively impact access to a college education for many, they also fail to take into account the significant role private colleges fill in providing a well-educated work force.

Through providing financial assistance to those who need it most, private colleges offer a less expensive and sensible way to leverage public money. By doing so, they become willing and important partners in increasing higher education access for Californians. Legislators must understand this valuable service of California's independent colleges.

Cal Grants have made the dream of a college education possible for thousands of low-income students. They have given students a choice and provided access to the college that best fits each student's needs. And, they have helped to produce many outstanding graduates who are contributing daily to our society and our economy thanks to the quality education they received at a private college or university.

While the challenge of closing a $14 billion state budget gap is daunting, this particular measure disproportionately affects the very institutions that "save" taxpayers money in educating California citizens. I urge you to contact your legislators to express opposition to cuts in the Cal Grant program. An educated citizenry is the foundation of our nation's future. Together, we can work toward keeping the college dream a reality for all.

-- Pamela M. Jolicoeur, Ph.D., is provost and dean of the faculty at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.