Illustration by Christine Hipp

“Putting it simply, California is on the mend.” These were some of the first words of Gov. Jerry Brown’s Jan. 18 State of the State address. Based on the address, we can infer that funding is a top priority for the governor and California right now. Later in Brown’s speech, he mentioned last year’s deficit of $20 billion and assured California residents that cuts and tax increases were temporary and necessary.

“In a world still reeling from the near collapse of the financial system, it makes no sense to spend more than we have,” Brown said.

But also included in his address was a proposal to raise the bar for the grade point average (GPA) necessary to be eligible for a Cal Grant, a part of the California Student Aid Program in California that provides aid to California undergraduates. The minimum GPA was raised from 3.0 to 3.25 for larger Cal Grant awards and from 2.4 to 2.75 for smaller awards. According to Brown’s administration, this change is expected to aid 26,600 fewer students than it has in the past, which will save the state $131 million.

Good intentions aside, this is a further attack on higher education and will lead to decreased accessibility and increased privatization of schools in California. In the name of balancing the state’s budget, Brown has effectively cut off support to a significant portion of students — students whose education he could instead be cultivating to secure the state’s future workers and entrepreneurs. This future workforce will be instrumental in digging our way out of the current financial hole.

Aside from being a misplaced attempt at addressing the financial crisis, this move is also highly classist. Students who need Cal Grant financial aid to attend college are the same students who may be working part-time on top of going to school. They may be working harder than students who don’t need supplementary jobs in order to achieve the GPA necessary for state aid. This will mean these students will have to work even harder to fund their education, and will have an even more difficult time meeting the minimum eligibility requirement. Moreover, students with access to more educational opportunities and support — often those already financially better off than others — will have yet another leg up over their peers in lower income brackets. The proposal could easily make the higher-education playing field far less even than before.

Are we supposed to be able to stomach the fact that this proposal might punish people for their financial situation, especially when such a large number of people in the state are currently suffering in the financial climate? Is higher education returning to its historical, institutional tradition of remaining accessible only to those fortunate enough to afford tuition increases or to be unaffected by this GPA requirement increase?

The nation saw George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind policy fail not too long ago. Enticing schools by basing funding on test scores punished schools that struggled — mainly with English as a Second Language (ESL) students — and instead of helping those students reach higher goals, the policy had the reverse effect of lowering graduation rates, according to researchers at Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Do we want this proposal for raising the GPA bar to discourage students in the same way No Child Left Behind did? No. The state should stabilize its budget with more temporary tax increases and stop attacking higher education in California. Education should be a top priority, with every person having an equal opportunity to succeed — not an easy target for the Brown administration’s budget balancing, and a commodity only to be bought.

Illustration by Maggie McManus.

The United States Student Association (USSA) is urging collegiates nationwide to contact their local senators and fight for student aid reform legislation in a week they have entitled “Raising Pell.”

The members of the USSA have strategically decided to go into action the week before the ballot goes out to raise awareness to politicians about the need for student aid reform. As the state of California has been reevaluating their funding for higher education and the way students are granted financial aid, this week of action has become particularly important to students on UC campuses.

“Pell” refers to the recent increases in Pell Grants from $4,731 to $5,350 this year under the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). The act is intended to help college students afford the cost of their post-secondary educations.

Some of the improvements listed in the SAFRA bill include increasing Pell Grants annually from $5,550 in the year 2010 to $6,900 in 2019, simplifying the FAFSA form and investing $2.55 billion in historically black and minority colleges.

Currently, 4,785 UC Santa Cruz students receive aid from the Pell Grant — about 27 percent of the total students enrolled. Full-time students can receive anywhere from $976 to $5,350 annually through the grant.

Monique Teal, the national field director for USSA in Washington D.C., is impressed with the power she has witnessed coming from students, as many are contacting their local politicians.

“The students did a really amazing job of encouraging the House of Representatives to pass the SAFRA bill in the past,” Teal said. “I believe the September 17 bill was really historical in the way that it was written and the type of investment that it gave students to help their secondary education.”

For the bill to be finalized, students have to come together to work on getting the bill through the Senate. They have developed key points that will be reflected in the legislation that is set to appear on the ballot on Oct. 15.

“Because of the way their system works we need the Senate to pass the bill as well and they haven’t done that yet,” Teal said. “As of now the bill hasn’t even been written, so our tactic is to go out and use the same method [of contacting local politicians] to encourage the Senate and really show that they have students that are affected by this issue and really want to see it passed.”

During the week of action in Massachusetts, Sen. John Kerry told the students calling in that he was undecided about whether or not he was going to support a student version of SAFRA. After a few hours, he then asked the members of USSA to stop calling because he made up his mind that he supported the bill.

In Santa Cruz, Tommy Lee, the local member of the USSA board of directors, has been doing his part to help during “Raising Pell” week by calling and faxing the district and federal offices. Lee says he understands the hardships that come with trying to get financial aid.

“The money from the federal government allows students to focus on their academics and not have to worry about the trouble of paying off their student loans and that’s something that I want to strongly support,” Lee said.

This bill has become especially important in California because more students are trying to find financial aid in a state that is experiencing a severe cut to its education budget.

“Over the phone I have tried contacting the financial aid office and it took 10 days for them to call me back,” Lee said. “They have a lack of services because they have an overwhelming amount of people trying to call the office, and this is not just in Santa Cruz, this is happening more and more in campuses in California.”

Ann Draper, the director of the financial aid office at UCSC, has been seeing more applicants for financial aid this year because of the state of California’s economy.

“We are seeing more people with need for financial aid because of the economy but that doesn’t mean financial aid is harder to get,” Draper said. “Because the fees went up for UCs and the Pell Grant went up, we are getting more grant money to help support students that doesn’t have to be repaid.”

Even in economic hardships, the students involved in “Raising Pell” have proven that financial aid is still possible.

Teal is proud of the way the students are fighting for their right to financial aid and for affordable education all across the country.

“It’s inspiring to see the work students are able to do and to be connected to a really long tradition of students organizing and students demanding better from politicians and really driving the social conscious of the country,” Teal said. “I really enjoy being part of that movement and inspiring the next generation of folks who will be doing this as well.”

Members of UCSC’s Student Union Assembly speak at the UCSA meeting. This year’s conference resulted in the creation of a campaign to save Cal Grants. Photo by Jenny Cain.

The University of California Student Association (UCSA) voted in early August to campaign for the preservation of Cal Grants by pushing the state to amend its constitution.

The campaign came in response to Gov. Swarzenegger’s proposed state budget revision that opts to phase out Cal Grants starting in 2011. If Cal grants are not made permanent prior to that date, nearly half the undergraduate population at UCSC could eventually be affected.

“We want to move the Cal Grant from discretionary to something that is funded, mandatory, year after year, as part of the budget,” said Victor Sanchez, Student Union Assembly External Vice Chair.

UC Santa Cruz played host to this year’s UCSA congress. Each year UCSA holds a congress during which students from 9 of the UC campuses can discuss the pressing issues affecting higher education. Students from all UC campuses attended this year’s congress except those from UC Davis.

During a UCSA congress, which usually lasts three days, students receive information about issues affecting higher education and learn how to organize campaigns around those issues. At the end of every congress students vote on one yearly campaign.

Last year, students at the congress voted to focus on the College Affordability Act (CAA), which would freeze tuition for five years and create revenue for higher education by placing a 1% tax on Californians making over a $1 million a year. Despite the bill failing to pass, UCSA members said that the campaign organized around it allowed the assembly to develop legislative connections and networks.

“[Last year’s] campaign itself was successful about raising awareness, about the cost of college and the need to address college affordability issues,” said Matthew Palm, the SUA commissioner of academic affairs. “It’s unfortunate the bill did not make it as far as it could have. But we built up our voter registration base and our outreach base. We didn’t get what we wanted but in the process we really built up our organization capacity.”

This year, Sanchez, along with other members of UCSA, voted for a Cal Grant preservation campaign, hoping to salvage the grants before they completely phase out. Although Gov. Schwarzenegger approved not to cut Cal Grants for the upcoming fiscal year, the program is expected to face major losses in the near future.

If legislation preserving Cal Grants is successful in the primary election next year, it will “theoretically” take affect Jan. 1 2011, Sanchez said.

While the types and dollar amounts of Cal Grants vary depending upon qualifications, eligibility and the type of degree being pursued, undergraduate students with a 2.4 GPA or better, who complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as well as the Cal Grant application can potentially earn up to $9,700 a year. This amount my go towards private school tuition and fees, or provide up to $7,788 a year towards UC system-wide fees. According to a university statement, 7,000 UCSC students receive a combined total of $30 million dollars.

The proposal to cut funding for the grants is partly due to the states GOP members’ attempt to close the state’s $26 billion dollar deficit. By reducing future expenses, like educational grants, the government has a greater ability to reduce its current debt and borrow more money through financial markets. But the state government must prove to the financial markets that it is solvent, or able to pay back its debtors when debts are due.

If Cal Grants are completely eliminated, however, Sanchez says that other types of grants will likely garner more interest and, thus, the budgetary pressure will simply be displaced, not eliminated.

“Those who get UC Grants most of the time don’t get Cal Grants,” he said. “The financial aid system is a delicate balance of grants and aid. If the Cal Grant aid gets eliminated, other grants would need to fill the void.”

In a June 19 letter to students and their parents who receive Cal Grants, executive director of the California Student Aid Commission Diana Fuentes-Michel explained that a lack of government funding will affect the program.

“The [State Budget Conference Committee] has authorized…Cal Grant programmatic reductions, beginning in 2010-11 [which include] freezing the income eligibility for Cal Grant A recipients at the 2008-09 level and reducing the maximum Cal Grant award for all private college award recipients by five percent from $9,708 to $9,223,” Fuentes-Michel wrote.

On the first day of congress UCSA members expressed their understanding of the state budget crisis, but said that they remain unforgiving of major cutbacks, like the potential elimination of Cal Grants, that only affect students.

Although SUA commissioner Palm originally hoped to run with a campaign that would generate revenue for higher education he said that he was happy about the success of the preservation of Cal Grant campaign among UCSA members.

“I’m happy and excited and hopeful about the outcome. We are going to try and put [Cal Grants] in the permanent budget…by amendment and try and get it passed in the state legislature,” Palm said. “The fact is there has been a lot of talk about decentralizing the Cal Grants… as a way to save money.”

Palm said some a proposal to save money would be eliminating the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). By reducing that body, he said, and putting the awards process in the hands of individual financial aid offices on each campus. This is called the localization of the cal grants.

Palm said that in spite of budget cuts individual financial aid offices do not have the staff to take on the work of CSAC.

Congressman Kevin Deleon and Victor Sanchez (left), the external vice chair for UCSC’s Student Union Assembly, discussed the drastic cuts at a state budget hearing in early June. Photo by Arianna Puopolo.

To fix gaps in budget, state might cut integral financial aid program

For over a month, legislators in Sacramento have been debating California’s financial future, working to balance the 2009-2010 state budget.

But some of the proposed cuts hit too close to home for California’s higher education students.

Among the myriad of proposed cuts being tossed around in Sacramento is a proposal from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that would eliminate new Cal Grants from being issued in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, effectively phasing out the program by 2011.

Should the proposal to pass, it would result in a cut of [grants?] $201 million in the 2009-2010 fiscal year and $478 million in the 2010-2011 fiscal year, according to a press release from the University of California Student Association (UCSA).

At UC Santa Cruz, the elimination of the Cal Grant program “would be a significant loss,” said Ann Draper, the director of financial aid at UCSC.

“Currently about 4,000 UCSC students receive Cal Grants and the total amount UCSC students received in 2008-09 was about $26 million. It represents 1/3 of total grant aid UCSC students receive,” she said.

The cuts to the Cal Grant go beyond just those students whom receive aid from the program.

“Eliminating the Cal Grant program would affect all students who receive grant support since UC, federal and state grants are pooled to ensure students of equal financial means receive similar grant awards at UC campuses,” Draper said. “About 7,000 undergraduates – roughly half of our undergraduates- receive grant support at UC Santa Cruz. All of these students would be impacted.”

Matthew Palm, the Commissioner of Academic Affairs (CAA) for the Student Union Assembly (SUA), believes it’s “hard to overestimate” the impact these cuts could have on UCSC students. “Cal Grants are one of the most effective programs,” Palm said referring to the efficacy of the program at getting students financial aid.

Unfortunately, options for replacing the Cal Grant remain limited. “There are no viable alternatives to offset the loss of this critical source of aid funding,” Draper said. “For reference, campus and private scholarships currently provide less than $6 million annually for our students. It would take several years and a significant effort to replace this loss.”

Palm also saw dramatic effects resulting from the slashing of Cal Grants.

“Without Cal Grants, people would be taking out a lot more loans,” he said. “Hopefully people won’t be dropping out.”

While it is unclear how long it will take for legislators in Sacramento to come to a consensus on the state budget, it is clear that the Cal Grant does have its share of supporters in the state legislature.

“We’re fighting like hell to protect it,” said Assemblymember Bill Monning (D-Santa Cruz/Monterey/Santa Clara). “Education is the future of this state and its economy.”

Monning, along with many of his Democratic colleagues, has voiced support over keeping the Cal Grant program intact. Their general proposal, however, remains under fire by Schwarzenegger and Republican leaders, whom oppose the introduction of any new taxes in this draft of the budget.

Yet the harsh reality is California’s $24 billion deficit needs to be closed somehow. “There’s no program immune from cuts,” Monning said. “There’s no magic wand, there’s no magic piggy bank.”

While lawmakers tackle the budget in Sacramento, Palm said that is will come down to how much pressure students put on the state legislature.

Both he and Draper urge students who wish to keep the Cal Grant program intact to contact their local state representatives. “We know we can do it,” Palm said. “We just gotta make it happen.”

Congressman Kevin Deleon and Victor Sanchez (left), the external vice chair for UCSC’s Student Union Assembly, discussed the drastic cuts at last week’s state budget hearing. Photo by Arianna Puopolo.

Twelve hours after leaving UC Santa Cruz, the caravan of student government officers and interns prepared to leave Sacramento behind. Hundreds of UC, CSU, and California Community College system (CCC) students filed out of the Capitol Building, clinging to the hope that legislators might heed their testimonies. 

“What is at stake here,” UCSC Student Union Assembly (SUA) external vice chair Victor Sanchez said to the budget committee, “is more than the future of our system of higher education, but that of the state of California.”

This public hearing, during which the public was allotted time to address a special budget committee, was scheduled in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent budget proposal.

The proposed statewide cuts would cut academic preparation programs; slash UC, CSU and CCC budgets; eliminate the Cal Grant; cut subsidized child care programs; release nonviolent prisoners one year early; eliminate the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program; shut down 80 percent of California’s state parks and beaches; and reduce or eliminate various public healthcare programs.

Originally scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. with comments from advocates of public healthcare for children, the hearing ran several hours late. Students and employees of California higher education systems formed a line obstructing any walking room in the halls outside the hearing facility. 

Of 11 UCSC SUA members present at the Sacramento hearing, only two had the chance to deliver their personal stories and pleas to the committee.  

UCLA student government representatives drove to Sacramento the night before the hearing to have their chance at the podium. Only one of the four who made it was able to address the budget committee.

UC San Diego students who flew up for the hearing chose to reschedule their flight home to accommodate the scheduling delays, only to ultimately miss the hearing when student testimonies were delayed until late into the 4 p.m. hour.

The chancellors of the CSU and CCC systems and UC President Mark Yudof addressed the committee before students entered the chamber.  

Yudof attempted to convince Chairwoman Noreen Evans, of the 7th Assembly District located near Napa, of the importance of protecting Cal Grants and warned against the overarching implications of such a budget cut. 

“This will be, in many ways, an unraveling of a master plan in terms of access research and all the rest of what went into that great master plan that California adopted about 50 years ago,” he said, referring to the establishment of the California Master Plan for Higher Education (CMPHE).

The CMPHE was developed in 1960 by a survey team organized by the UC regents and the California Board of Education. Its goal was to define the objectives of the UC, CSU and CCC and establish the admissions standards to be used throughout the UC system. Additionally, the CMPHE established that every Californian is entitled to higher education regardless of economic standing. 

This focus on accessibility to higher education for all Californians was central in Yudof’s argument against the cuts.

“The hardest hit is on the low-income families, with [annual earnings] under $60,000,” he said. “That’s just the reality of it.”

UCSC SUA treasurer Eric Piccolotti is a second-year feminist studies major affiliated with College Ten. He was one of several students denied the opportunity to speak at the budget hearing due to time restrictions.  

Piccolotti said he trekked to Sacramento because Cal Grants and curricular diversity are important to him, and he fears the implications of the proposed budget cuts to these areas.

“Education is a right for all Californians,” Piccolotti said. “These budget cuts are infringing upon that right.”

Olgalilia Ramirez is the director of the Office of Governmental Relations for the California State Student Association (CSSA) and an alumna of CSU Sacramento. She attended the budget hearing as a liaison for CSU students.  

“It’s important that students give their story, because they’re the only ones that can give that story and that is very valuable for the community to hear,” she said. “[It is also important] to get across the message that investing in students is an investment in California’s future economy and also our present economy.” 

Ramirez and Clais Daniels-Edwards, the legislative director of UC Students Association (UCSA), collaborated to organize students present at the hearing.  

As an indication of solidarity between California public higher education institutions, students wore yellow bands on their wrists, which they raised every time a fellow student said “California” during their testimony. 

Callin Curry, a UCSC first-year and SUA intern, relayed his personal story to the committee. 

With the proposed elimination of Cal Grants, and having come out of the California foster care system without family to help him cover the costs of a university education, Curry faces an ominous future. 

“With the government’s current proposal, a dream 19 years in the making [of attending a four-year university] is slowly being destroyed,” Curry said. “I have protested as I have watched higher education take those devastating cuts, with affordability and access decreasing exponentially. This current situation is one of the biggest threats to education.”