State Budget Funds Enrollment Growth
The 2005–06 state budget includes increases for student enrollment growth, the opening of UC Merced and an initiative to expand the training of K–12 science and math teachers.
The budget, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in July, also preserves funding on a one-time basis for the University’s student academic preparation programs, which work to improve academic achievement and college preparation for students in disadvantaged K–12 schools.
In keeping with the compact the governor made with UC and California State University last year, the new budget provides funding for enrollment growth each year through 2010–11. UC’s state-funded operating budget will increase $134 million to $2.843 billion, a 5 percent rise over the 2004–05 fiscal year.
“We are grateful to both the governor and the Legislature for adopting a budget that halts the cuts of the last few years and invests in higher education’s contributions to California,” said UC President Robert C. Dynes.
Student Fees and Financial Aid
Acting to give maximum notice to students and their families, the UC Regents last November approved undergraduate and graduate student fees for 2005–06, consistent with the levels outlined in the compact and the final state budget outcome. The action included increases of 8 percent ($457) for resident undergraduates and 10 percent ($628) for resident graduate academic students. The Regents approved additional fee increases for professional school students beginning in the winter quarter/spring semester of the 2005–06 year.
Details about UC’s 2005–06 student fees are available here.
UC financial aid, in conjunction with Cal Grants, will be sufficient to cover the fee increase and some other cost increases for undergraduates eligible for UC grant aid.
Budget Overview
The budget includes the following for the UC system:
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Enrollment: Funding for enrollment growth of 5,000 full-time-equivalent students in 2005–06, a 2.5 percent increase.
• UC Merced: Continuation of $10 million in ongoing operating funds plus $14 million in one-time money for the new campus, along with enrollment funding (part of the above 5,000-student allocation)
to enroll its first entering class.
• Science and math initiative: A $750,000 allocation for UC to begin the “California Teach: One Thousand Teachers, One Million Minds” program. In this program, UC will work with corporate partners and the CSU system to dramatically expand the training of high-quality science and mathematics teachers for California’s schools. UC expects to increase its graduation of credentialed math and science teachers from 250 a year to 1,000 a year by 2010.
• Academic preparation: Continuation of $17.3 million for UC’s academic preparation programs. The governor’s budget message indicated that this funding will be sustained “on a one-time basis, with the understanding that the University will work with the administration to fully evaluate the cost-effectiveness of each program and eliminate those that cannot demonstrate an adequate return on investment.”
• Faculty and staff compensation: A 3 percent increase for raises, including merit-based increases, and additional funds to contribute to employee health benefit costs and to address market-based and equity issues.
The budget also includes $352.5 million from a voter-approved bond measure to expand and upgrade academic facilities. The governor vetoed $3.8 million from the budget passed by the Legislature for the Institute for Labor and Employment.
Additional background information on the budget is available online.
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