The University of California’s Board of Regents is set to vote on a proposed tuition increase, sparking protests from students at UCLA on Wednesday. The proposal suggests raising tuition while reducing the portion allocated for financial aid from 45% to 40%, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Proponents argue that the increase is necessary due to cuts from the Trump administration, reduced state funding, and inflation. The proposal aims to maintain “tuition stability” by locking in rates for up to six years, with annual increases capped at 5% based on inflation. This approach is designed to offer predictability for students and families while supporting the university’s financial stability.
Student leaders from all nine UC campuses plan to protest outside the regents’ meeting at UCLA, voicing strong opposition to the hikes. The UC Student Association, representing 236,000 undergraduates, has been vocal on social media, demanding no increases. Aditi Hariharan, president of the UC Student Association, emphasized the need for more oversight and student input on fee usage, stating, “This model essentially has created forever tuition hikes.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, the original program, which expires next year, allowed for tuition increases tied to inflation. The current proposal retains this structure but adjusts the financial aid allocation. Shawn Brick, UC’s associate vice provost for student financial aid, assured that the change would not reduce overall financial aid, but the pool would grow more slowly.
The regents’ decision will impact students entering the UC system, with tuition rates fixed for the duration of their studies. If approved, the proposal will continue to allow annual tuition increases up to 5%, with the possibility of banking excess inflation for future use. The outcome of the vote will determine the financial landscape for UC students in the coming years.
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