CSU Students Face Fee Increase; Execs Expect Raises

NBC-11 San Francisco 1/23/07

As California State University student fees are expected to increase, university executives are likely to be getting a pay hike, NBC11's Mike Luery reported.

California State University students are facing a 10 percent fee hike, under the governor's new budget proposal. That's an extra $250 on top of the $2,500 they already pay in university fees each year.

"To me, it means more loans. It means more loans, and if I can't get those loans, it means I can't go to school," said CSU Sacramento junior, Christina Romero.

Trustees are expected Tuesday to approve a 4 percent pay hike for university executives.

"I think as trustees, their trust should mean something. We should be able to trust them to look out for the best interest of students. So I don't feel that's fair at all," said CSU Sacramento senior, Bankole Fatunla.

CSU faculty also have a problem with the proposed raises, Luery reported. After 20 months of bargaining, CSU faculty are now considering a system-wide strike across 23 campuses.

"I think faculty are angry because the priority seems to be taking care of folks at the top, not the folks who provide the education and need the education," said Susan Meisenhelder of the California Faculty Association.

University officials said the 4 percent hike applies to faculty and executives. Professors are holding out for more, and they want administrators to sacrifice, Luery reported.

At the state capitol, some lawmakers are also speaking out against the proposed pay hike. They're calling for greater disclosure by the California State University system.

"The CSU system operates in secrecy. There's no open discussion of the whys and wherefores of these particular raises," said San Francisco Sen. Leland Yee (D). Yee said he'll be pushing to bring the compensation system for executives into the public light.

The proposed raises would benefit the university president, chancellor and others who currently make up to $360,000 a year.