Support Higher Ed: Yes We Can!

By Chris Jackson

This year, California faces a $16 billion budget shortfall. There will be very difficult cuts in services that will impact people's ability to access the California Dream. One of the most troubling and least discussed of those budget cuts is the elimination of the Competitive Cal Grant Awards.

Cal Grant is the State's main student financial aid program. Currently the program has two parts: One is an entitlement program based on family income. The other, the competitive award program, helps students who on paper may not qualify for the entitlement program, but who deserve assistance. For example, if one's parent recently lost their job, but made too much money the previous year to qualify for the entitlement program.

The Governor has proposed to eliminate the competitive program to help bring the budget into balance. Not to worry, says the California Department of Finance. "Federal Pell grants are scheduled to increase substantially over the next few years and will help to mitigate the phase-out of this program for eligible students."

While maximum Pell grants are set to increase by 12 percent, the gains have already been undone. This year, the average Pell grant is $10 lower than in 2003. This does not consider the loss in real value due to inflation.

The Federal Department of Education froze Pell Grant award levels from 2003 to 2006; while student fees across the country, including the UC and CSU, have increased to the point where wealthy schools now consider families that make less than $100,000 a year in need of financial assistance. And while Community College fees have gone up and down, the true cost of attendance for Community Colleges has increased substantially due to increases in the already high cost of living in California.

The Governor's proposal will abandon tens of thousands of students and direct them to a program that has already been abandoned by the Federal Government. But the tragic aspect of this situation is we could cover most the program's cost by closing the Yacht tax loophole. The Board of Equalization estimates that closing the loophole could bring in $55 million. The Competitive Cal Grant program currently cost $57.4 million. Unfortunately, Assembly Republicans blocked a measure that would bring this income to the state.

The irony is, increasing access to higher education can increase long term State revenues without increasing taxes. A recent study at UC Berkeley found that for every new dollar the State invests in helping our young people get into college, it will receive a net return on investment of three dollars.

So, what can we do?

We need to see our institutions of Higher Education, especially our Community Colleges for what they are: not only as providers of education, but as engines of local and state-wide economic and community development.

We need to get our students every state and federal dollar still available. We need to utilize the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Last year, the State Legislature passed AB 668 (Portantino). This bill requests local Community Colleges to require all of their students to sign a wavier stating that they are aware of available financial aid. Let's heed that request at San Francisco City College, and let's take it further. Let's include a sheet like the following: