Although the Cal State University system froze tuition rates nearly three years ago, fees continue to increase at most of the campuses in the system.
Since the 2011-12 academic year, 21 of the 23 CSU campuses, including Cal State Long Beach, have seen mandatory fee increases.
Before leaving for Lousiana State Univeristy, former CSULB President F. King Alexander approved a $79 increase to the Student Excellence Fee per semseter.
Comparatively speaking, however, our fee increase wasn’t nearly as high as the $780 fee increase that Cal Poly San Luis Obispo students approved after the tuition freeze.
With so many recent fee increases, it’s no wonder that many students are upset.
Why should students repeatedly be asked to pay more for their education each year?
Although students do not enjoy paying hundreds of dollars in additional fees per semester, we believe that it is overall in their best interest.
It seems students at some CSU campuses see the benefit in paying additional fees.
When students at Cal Poly SLO voted to pass a $780 fee increase, they showed that they were willing to spend more to invest in their college experience.
If the fees are going towards elevating existing student programs, we don’t see any harm.
After all, additional fees enable the university to invest more in the students’ education and, in a sense, their future.
CSU Spokesman Mike Uhlenkamp said student fees go directly towards funding campus programs, services and course offerings. He said the fees are not used to fund administration or increase student enrollment.
Some students may not directly feel the fee increases as some may find relief in tuition costs through Cal Grants and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
With many CSU students having tuition assitance through FAFSA and other grants, we think students should invest money into improving their campus programs.
Even though tuition nearly doubled from 2005 to 2010, CSU campuses are still more affordable than many other public university systems throughout the country, according to the CSU website.
With the recent budget cuts, we understand why fees are being introduced to CSU campuses, although we are a little skeptical about how those fees are being presented to students.
For example, we would have appreciated if Alexander was more transparent with students about the CSULB fee increase.
We’re happy to know the SEF is being put toward student needs, but most of us were unaware about the fee until after he approved it.
Additionally, we were unable to vote on the increase or its use, even though we were the ones paying for it.
Even if fees continue to roll out in the upcoming years, or even months, we would like those who know about the fees to inform the students. We want in on the details and the voting process.
In the future, we would like to know more about impending fee increases and how they will benefit students.
The way we see it, student fees are somewhat like taxes. People don’t want to pay them but at the same time, they don’t want to give up the services they provide.