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Media Advisory                             

Contact: Tom Uribes

July 16, 2003                      

(559) 278-5366 or 246-1717

Note: FAQs on Fees at Fresno State

UPDATE: CSU Trustees Approve Fee Increase Today 

The California State University Board of Trustees just approved a 30 percent fee increase for both undergraduate and graduate students at its regularly scheduled meeting this morning in Long Beach (July 16).

The vote was 11-2 with Trustee Rick Icaza and student trustee Alex Lopez voting no.

Fresno State President John D. Welty, who is at the trustees meeting, said the increase is vital to maintaining classes but the university will assist affected students.

“It is always difficult to raise fees because of the impact of such increases on students,” Welty said after the vote. 

“However, due to the state’s fiscal condition, this increase is necessary if we are to meet our commitment to provide classes for those students whom we have admitted. We will do everything possible to assist students who are impacted by this increase.”

Fresno State student Neil Gibson, president of the Associated Students, Inc., and ASI Student Senator Brent Hansen testified to the trustees in Long Beach Wednesday morning and asked them to consider a graduated fee increase plan so students won’t be hit so hard at once. They said student leaders are meeting with state legislators and pushing to ease the cuts to the CSU while they work on their plan.

The increase brings the annual undergraduate state resident fee to $2,046 for the academic year beginning in fall 2003 -- a $474 increase from December 2002 when the board approved a 10 percent fee increase for undergraduate students as a result of an unexpected mid-year budget cut by the state.

Graduate students will pay $2,256, which is a $522 annual increase. Full time out-of-state undergraduate students will pay $11,004 for 2003/04 tuition.

Including the average campus-based fee of $498 (Fresno State is $368), the total annual undergraduate fee of $2,544 (Fresno State is $2,414) is still $41 lower than the lowest of 15 higher education institutions comparable to the CSU. The average annual fee for these institutions is $4,584.  

One-third of the revenue raised by the fee increase will be set aside for financial aid, according to board policy.

Welty said the trustees also committed to creating a committee of all stakeholders to develop a more rational fee policy which is predictable and minimizes the need for sudden, large increases.

Dr. Paul Oliaro, Fresno State vice president of student affairs and dean of students, said the due date for the additional fees for Fresno State students has been set for Sept.  26.

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