California State Universities will not be raising tuition for the 2018-2019 academic year, according to a press release from the university system’s website.

Chancellor Timothy P. White, the university system’s chancellor since 2012, said he believes it in California’s “best interest” to provide “sufficient” funding to its 23 campuses across the state. White said in light of the state’s families should not be “saddled” with more financial burdens in order to get a higher education.

According to CSU, lack of funding from the state prompted the decision to maintain tuition at the current rate.

CSU sought a budget increase of $263 million in November to fund its graduation initiative, higher enrollment, employee compensation, healthcare and retirement costs, and infrastructure needs. Governor Jerry Brown’s January budget proposal provided approximately a third of that funding with only $92.1 million allocated, prompting discussions over tuition increases.

Chancellor White’s statement says “that proposal will not be considered further this year.”

Friday’s statement said the chancellor has been working with campus presidents and other university leaders to speak with policymakers about prioritizing CSU and public higher education in the next state budget.

California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins said she “pledge[d]” to work with the legislature to lower barriers and costs of higher education.

Assembly Speaker and former ex officio member of the CSU board of trustees Anthony Rendon said CSU has a “strong case for additional funding” in the legislature.

The California State University (CSU) system was created in 1960 and is the largest system of “senior higher education” with a total enrollment of 484,000 students and a faculty of 50,800, according to CSU’s website. Its website claims it is renowned for producing job-ready graduates and innovative research.

Half of its students transfer from California Community Colleges.

According to the university’s website, the California State University (CSU) system is retaining, graduating and enrolling students at record levels and currently awards over 110,000 degrees annually with 3.4 million alumni across its system.

The University of California (UC) system recently announced it would admit all qualified community college students who choose to transfer to any of their 9 undergraduate campuses. The UC raised  out-of-state and international students’ tuition in March but has yet to take a stance on in-state tuition hikes.

Print