UC System to Vote on Student Tuition Rollback

The University of California Regents will vote on a $60 undergraduate tuition rollback at their upcoming meeting on July 19.

The $60 undergraduate tuition surcharge was originally added in 2007 as a result of the UC system losing two class action lawsuits. After the UC system increased fees for professional students in 2003 despite their contracts stating there would be no increases, the UC system was made to pay $40 million in settlements. According to the July 19 meeting proposal, all of the losses from the lawsuits will be recovered by Fall 2018, so there is no longer a need for the fee.

The State’s budget also recently allocated additional funds to the UC system for the next fiscal year, allowing the Board of Regents to cancel a tuition hike previously approved in March.

“The Regents proposed this $60 fee to pay for a series of lawsuits, and now that they’ve been paid off, it’s an act of good faith on behalf of the UC [system],” ASUCSD Vice President of External Affairs Caroline Siegel-Singh told The Triton. “It sends a clear message that they’re willing to work with students as well as be responsible to the state.”

The Board of Regents still has to vote on the proposal at their July meeting next Thursday. If it passes, tuition for the 2018-19 school year will be $60 less than planned.

“We are pleased to see that students’ efforts in advocating for more funding have resulted in a $60 tuition rollback,” said UC Students Association President Judith Gutierrez in a press release. “This achievement is a clear example of why it is important for the UC [system] to include students in budget discussions and advocacy efforts.”

Ethan Coston is an Assistant News Editor for The Triton. You can follow him @Ethan4Books.