July 17, 2003

The California State University Trustees voted Wednesday to raise student fees for the 2003-04 academic year. Undergraduate student fees will go up by $474 and graduate fees by $522 annually.

The CSU has been forced to seek additional revenue because of the state's budget problems. While the budget has yet to be passed, the CSU system will most likely be required to absorb at least $330.2 million in cuts to its budget. The student fee increase will only cover a small percentage of those cuts.

One-third of the money raised by the fee increase will go to financial aid.

"For the most part, the students with the tightest budgets -- the students with the greatest financial need -- will see their financial aid increase automatically," said Jo Volkert, SFSU associate vice president for enrollment planning and management, in an interview that aired Wednesday on KGO-AM.

Volkert recommends that SFSU students with questions or concerns about financial aid contact the Financial Aid Office at (415) 338-7000 or go to the Financial Aid Web site.

CSU fees still remain the lowest in the nation when compared to similar public higher education institutions.

For more on the fee increase and the CSU's budget woes, see:

State's university students facing new 25-30% fee increases this fall. San Francisco Chronicle, 6/17/03

Trustees Assess Grim Budget Outlook; Vote to Raise Fees. CSU Leader, 6/17/03

President Robert A. Corrigan's message to SFSU students on the fee increase. SF State News, 6/16/03

-- William Morris

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Last modified July 17, 2003, by the Office of Public Affairs