Has Governor Schwarzenegger fundamentally changed his plan to privatize higher education in California?
A. No. While, thanks to the political pressure mounted by students, families, staff and faculty, Governor Schwarzenegger spared UC and CSU from the major cuts he proposed for most other public services, he only partially reversed the huge cuts to higher education he pushed through last year. The $370 million increases he proposed for UC and CSU only restore about 1/3 of his recent cuts and he leaves high fees (and plans for further 10% per year increases) in place. They are only a tiny fraction of the $4.6 billion that is needed to restore quality and access to California public higher ed. The governor also proposes to eliminate new awards for the Cal Grant Competitive Program beginning in 2010. This program provides financial assistance to under-served students based upon their academic performance. And his proposed constitutional amendment to “protect” higher education is a hollow PR exercise that will have no effect. In short, this budget mostly consolidates the governor’s privatiza
