Associated Students

Resolution in Support of Assembly Bill 550 (Diaz)

Student Fee Affordability Act of 2003

Adopted 4/23/03

Whereas, the authors of the Master Plan believed that the “traditional policy of nearly a century of tuition-free higher education is in the best interest of the state and should be continued”; and

Whereas, part of the California State University Mission is to prepare significant numbers of educated, responsible people to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture and future; and

Whereas, CSU students have seen commitment to this ideal erode significantly over the past decade, over which time the State University Fee has increased by 152% (including the Governor’s proposed 25% increase in the 2004 budget); and

Whereas, on December 16, 2002, the CSU Board of Trustees, with blatant disregard for shared governance and despite the outcry from hundreds of students present, the Lieutenant Governor, California Latino Legislative Caucus and other legislators, held a special meeting to significantly increase student fees; and

Whereas, the California Postsecondary Education Commission has stated that “Changes in resident student fees should take into consideration the total cost to the student attending the university, including mandatory campus based student fees, housing and living expenses, as well as all other expenses associated with university attendance issues” (Commission Report 02-12); and

Whereas, the Board of Trustees clearly did not consider all the relevant factors effecting students with regards to this student fee increase and its timing, nor was there respect shown for the practice of shared governance; and

Whereas, Assembly Bill 550 would establish a system-wide student fee committee in each of the three higher education segments, the University of California, the CSU, and the California Community College system; and

Whereas, the student fee committee would be comprised of a majority of students and other stakeholders in each higher education segment, including faculty, administrators, staff and parents; and

Whereas, the purpose of the committees would be to empower system stakeholders to ensure that student fees and student fee policies are developed collaboratively; and

Whereas, the charge of the committees would be to examine the feasibility and impact of forcing students and their families to pay more for public postsecondary education, and to implement a process that exhausts all alternatives in searching for ways to alleviate the need for student fee increases; and

Whereas, Assembly Bill 550 would ensure legislative oversight and involvement when student fee increases are considered through the development of student fee guidelines; therefore be it

Resolved, The Associated Students of Humboldt State University supports Assembly Bill 550, and commends author Assembly Member Diaz for his student-centered approach to addressing changes to the cost of attending a California State University; and be it further

Resolved, that this Resolution be distributed but distribution not limited to Assembly Members of the Higher Education Committee, CSU Board of Trustees, CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed, President Rollin Richmond, Humboldt State Academic Senate Chair Sue MacConnie, CFA President John Travis.

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            Julia Donhost, Representative                                                Kelley Kiesling, Representative

College of Arts, Humanities & Social Science            College of Professional Studies

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                     Gretchen Kinney                                                           Manuel Fonseca

                          President                                                          Legislative Vice President