California State University, Fresno has begun sending notices to students about increases in class fees adopted June 18 by the California State University Board of Trustees to take effect this fall.

The deadline for payment of all fees is July 30. Instruction begins Aug. 23.

The trustees voted to raise the State University Fee by five percent for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, credential, master’s and graduate business professional programs, and by 10 percent for doctoral education students. For fulltime undergraduate students, that’s a $204 annual increase to $4,230 beginning fall 2010.

Annual fees that each campus assesses for student services remain unchanged from 2009-10 at Fresno State at $649, well below the 23-campus average of $867. The Fresno State campus fees include health, academic, student body, Student union services, instructionally related activities and facilities.

Fresno State undergraduate students will pay $4,879 for 2010-11 classes. The CSU system average is $5,097, which remains the lowest among comparable institutions nationwide and $3,270 below the comparison average.

Students must meet the payment deadline or face cancellation of class registration, said Dr. Paul M. Oliaro, vice president for student affairs.

The CSU trustees based the increase on the Assembly budget proposal that provides additional state revenues. Trustees may revisit fee levels in November if the state does not fully fund the proposed budget.

“It is unfortunate that our students again are facing a burden that results from the state budget crisis,” Oliaro said. “We implore the legislators to ensure that funding support for higher education is a priority since these students will play a key factor in helping our economy recover and thrive.”

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed said the five percent level will “allow us to move forward with adding classes and sections for students this fall.”

More than 187,000 CSU students will pay no fee increase due to increases in State University Grants, federal grants, CSU fee waivers and expanded federal tax credits. Additionally, the CSU is the largest recipient of the federal Pell Awards Program.

On average, factoring in financial aid, families who make $70,000 or less will not pay any undergraduate fees. Financial aid and federal tax credits also will be available for many other students, including those with family incomes of up to $180,000.

At Fresno State, where approximately 60 percent of enrolled students (undergraduates and post-baccalaureates) receive financial aid, 9,075 students received Pell awards in 2009-10, said Maria Hernandez, director of Financial Aid.

“This figure is expected to be higher in 2010-11 because eligibility criteria were changed to allow additional recipients;” Hernandez said.

Those students also are eligible for a Cal Grant (paying up to the amount of the State University Fee) and/or a State University Grant (paying the full fee or the amount not paid by the Cal Grant Program) unless granted a fee waiver/payment from another program.

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