The LA Times reported today (More non-Californians are offered freshman slots at UC schools) about the disturbing trend of the University of California increasing the number of out-of-state freshmen to make up for budgetary shortfalls.
The UC System is built and funded to provide California's children a world class education - part of our state's collective effort to help our citizens achieve their dreams and create a more vibrant economy. This is one part of the reason California used to be the 6th largest economy in the world.
Fact is that, due to budget cuts and revenue shortfalls, they now need to raise more money from tuition than before - out of state tuition is now $34K (UC out of State Tuition), about 3x in-state tuition of $12K (UC in State Tuition)- do the math.
What this means is that our educational institutions are no longer fulfilling their mission to the state in terms of delivering on the promise of improving education for state residents.
This is due to revenue (tax) and budget shortfalls and choices we are making as a state about what to fund, and not to fund. Real tradeoffs are being made that the average citizen either isn't aware of, or doesn't care about. For example - we decide to fund prisons ($9.4 BN in 2011 up from $8.6BN in 2009) (CA Corrections Budget - look to page two, bottom of the page for summary by year) to the detriment of UC funding ($6 BN proposed down from$6.4 BN) (CA Education Budget - read the first line for UC system).
The choice we are making as a society through our elected representatives is clear - less educational and economic opportunity for our citizens coupled with more funding to lock them up when, unable to get good jobs due to lack of opportunity and education, they break the law. Couple that with fewer in-state students because the UC system needs to raise revenue, and you have a vicious cycle that we're feeding through public policy gone wrong.
If you aren't pissed off then you simply aren't paying attention.
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