2008 Woodie Awards
Tuition Fees Increased
Valley College tuition has been raised for the second year in a row.
Sylvia Grate
Issue date: 9/8/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Valley College students started school last week facing a new semester of challenging courses and the shock of having to pay a significantly higher tuition, causing enrollment within the LACCD to decrease by approximately 100,000 students.
California State legislature recently increased community college fees 44 percent, raising the enrollment fee from $18 to $26 per unit beginning this semester, making this the second straight year community colleges have been faced with fee increases. Last year, the fee was raised to $18 from $11 per unit, now making tuition more than double what it was in 2002.
"It made me almost not want to come this semester," said Valley student Francis Medel,. "My parents already have paid a lot."
Initially Medel was supposed to pay $174, but was faced with paying an additional $70.
"The $244 was only for three classes," said Medel.
Student will receive bills Sept. 7 asking for an additional $8 per college unit, raising the average full-time student's fee to $96 more than last semester.
"I work at a minimum wage job, so I can't afford it," said,liberal arts major Amanda Buchanan.
The fee increases have taken a toll on student's accounts. Students like Buchanan, who do not qualify for financial aid, will have to start saving up for the coming semester.
"Maybe the fee hike will help us more in the future," Buchanan said. "With Valley having more money, they may be able to contribute better books and education to the society."
According to Associated Student Union President Levon Bagramian, contrary to what some students may believe, the school does not stand to gain any benefits from the increase.
The ASU headed more than 15,000 students in the "March in March," a rally in Sacramento to oppose the proposed fee increases.
"We may feel that the effort that was put into the 'March in March' has gone in vain, but I can assure you, it was actions like 'March in March' and the continuous student involvement within the state apparatus that has prevented even worse budget cuts and tuition increases to occur," Bagramian said.
Classes that were usually filled to capacity are becoming easier for students to enroll in. Students such as Erick Iniguez, have found it easier to enroll in these courses.
"Classes that I had my last year, upper level, were always hard to get into," said Iniguez. "It was easy for me to enroll into statistics this semester because I guess some people do not want to come to school anymore because of the increase."
"The ASU is greatly concerned about the new fee hikes," says Bagramian. "This issue is one of the top priorities of our yearly agenda."
The ASU has made a commitment to prevent further fee increases, while working to their fullest potential to overturn the recent increase.
California State legislature recently increased community college fees 44 percent, raising the enrollment fee from $18 to $26 per unit beginning this semester, making this the second straight year community colleges have been faced with fee increases. Last year, the fee was raised to $18 from $11 per unit, now making tuition more than double what it was in 2002.
"It made me almost not want to come this semester," said Valley student Francis Medel,. "My parents already have paid a lot."
Initially Medel was supposed to pay $174, but was faced with paying an additional $70.
"The $244 was only for three classes," said Medel.
Student will receive bills Sept. 7 asking for an additional $8 per college unit, raising the average full-time student's fee to $96 more than last semester.
"I work at a minimum wage job, so I can't afford it," said,liberal arts major Amanda Buchanan.
The fee increases have taken a toll on student's accounts. Students like Buchanan, who do not qualify for financial aid, will have to start saving up for the coming semester.
"Maybe the fee hike will help us more in the future," Buchanan said. "With Valley having more money, they may be able to contribute better books and education to the society."
According to Associated Student Union President Levon Bagramian, contrary to what some students may believe, the school does not stand to gain any benefits from the increase.
The ASU headed more than 15,000 students in the "March in March," a rally in Sacramento to oppose the proposed fee increases.
"We may feel that the effort that was put into the 'March in March' has gone in vain, but I can assure you, it was actions like 'March in March' and the continuous student involvement within the state apparatus that has prevented even worse budget cuts and tuition increases to occur," Bagramian said.
Classes that were usually filled to capacity are becoming easier for students to enroll in. Students such as Erick Iniguez, have found it easier to enroll in these courses.
"Classes that I had my last year, upper level, were always hard to get into," said Iniguez. "It was easy for me to enroll into statistics this semester because I guess some people do not want to come to school anymore because of the increase."
"The ASU is greatly concerned about the new fee hikes," says Bagramian. "This issue is one of the top priorities of our yearly agenda."
The ASU has made a commitment to prevent further fee increases, while working to their fullest potential to overturn the recent increase.
