Fee drop: Is a good education worth a couple of pizza slices?
Press-Democrat 1/8/07
Yes, with the money they saved per unit, they can buy a couple of slices of Mombo's pizza or, when the fee-savings from all their courses are totalled, a new textbook. But history has a funny way of repeating itself, and, unfortunately, in California that means another budget crisis is already looming.
As a result, it's likely that fees will rise again - probably suddenly and substantially. Alternatively, courses and programs will be cut. Either way, students lose out.
A long time ago, when California's taxpayers were willing to support their government, a promise was made to young people that a community college education would be free. Sadly, this promise can't be kept in a post-Proposition 13 era.
The Legislature, students and faculty need to recognize this reality and work to create a fee structure that is predictable and sustainable, accompanied by a grant program for low-income students.
One thing is certain, the state's largest system of higher education can't be expected to maintain its high level of quality with capricious fee changes.