LONG BEACH - The Cal State University (CSU) Board of Trustees narrowly voted today on a proposal to increase tuition at its 23 campuses. The current tuition is $5,472. The hike will increase graduate tuition by hundreds of dollars for the 2017-18 academic year. Students from across the systemâs 23 campuses had started gathering at dawn at the meeting in Long Beach to protest a decision that would increase their financial burden.
âWe continue to press forward, and strongly oppose this tuition increase which would continue to put a burden on working and middle-class families,â said Quirk-Silva. âThe 11-8 vote illustrates the growing sensitivity and sharp divisions of the issue up and down our state.â
There is hope to stop the fee increases. This year, Quirk-Silva authored AB 393: The Student Protection Act , that would place a moratorium on any fee increases until the 2019â20 academic year. âThis bill is a direct response to the financial challenges faced by todayâs college students, including deepening debt and long work hours necessary to supplement their educational costs,â said Quirk-Silva.
Assemblywoman Quirk-Silva sent a letter to the Board of Trustees earlier this week urging them to reconsider increasing tuition for the 2017-2018 Academic Year. The letter was backed by 25 signatures of members of the California Legislature, showing bipartisan support.
âOur economy and the quality of life in California have been built in large part because we have had such a large, accessible public higher education system. So, we asked that the Board of Trustee members reconsider the way in which we fund higher education because high tuition costs constrict access to our institutions of higher education, and deny students and their families the dream of obtaining a degree.â
For the PDF copy of the original letter sent to the Board of Trustees, click 
CUS BOT Letter Final With Signatures 03.17.17.pdf