UC hid $175 million from the public eye and from their own governing board, even as they raised tuition on California students.
(Sacramento) â After the state auditor uncovered $175 million reserve held by the administration of the University of California, Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (Orange County), Members of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, the Assembly Higher Education Committee and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee participated in a joint hearing to discuss the recent state audit of the University of California (UC) Office of the President titled, âThe University of California Office of the President: It Failed to Disclose Tens of Millions in Surplus Funds, and Its Budget Practices are Misleading.â
Those presenting testimony on the recent University of California audit include:
-Elaine Howle, California State Auditor
-Kathleen Fullerton, Audit Principal
-Janet Napolitano, President, University of California
-Monica Lozano, Regent, University of California
âThis recent news is certainly disturbing. Now, the state government needs to send a message on behalf of the students, parents, and California taxpayers that we demand transparency and accountability when it comes to university finances, especially when they continue to increase tuition,â said Quirk-Silva. âThe University of California needs to come clean about all of its expenditures to the UC Regents and the concerned students.â
âI immediately call on the UC Regents to rescind their recent tuition increase. I have been a teacher for over 30 years, and will continue to fight for an affordable higher education on behalf of the students in Orange County, and the hundreds of thousands of students up and down the state.â
A summary of the audit report can be found here: https://www.auditor.ca.gov/reports/2016-130/summary.html
The full audit report can be found here: https://www.auditor.ca.gov/pdfs/reports/2016-130.pdf
Quirk-Silva is authoring AB 393: The Student Protection Act in response to the financial challenges faced by todayâs college students, including deepening debt and long work hours necessary to supplement their educational costs. The bill will place a moratorium on student tuition and fees at Californiaâs public community colleges and state universities.