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November 12, 2009 - Almost 50 years ago, the state of California adopted a visionary plan for higher education that sought to forge the state’s colleges and universities into a coordinated system, founded on core principles and directed toward specified goals. Adherence to that vision has been uneven over the past five decades, while changes in demographics and the economy have caused the state’s educational needs to evolve. The 50th anniversary of the Master Plan thus presents a timely opportunity for policymakers to take stock of California’s higher education system in light of current and projected needs and priorities. In order to assist the Legislature in such an effort, our office is launching a series of publications examining key aspects of higher education policy and funding. The series is designed to frame key issues for legislative consideration, and assist in the refinement of higher education goals and policies. This report provides an overview of the series.
November 11, 2009 - What is the Status of UC Fee Lawsuits? (November 2009) This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov/highered.
November 11, 2009 - How Do Student Fees Contribute to Public University Funding? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov/highered.
October 21, 2009 - What Has Happened With Year-round Operations? This is one of a series of issue briefs examining important questions about higher education funding in California. For more information on this topic, or to request other briefs from this series, contact the Legislative Analyst’s Office Higher Education section at (916) 319-8349, or visit our Web site at www.lao.ca.gov.
June 11, 2009 - New federal tax credit provisions allow the state to tap potentially hundreds of millions of new federal dollars for higher education. Because these tax credits will fully reimburse most California Community College (CCC) students for the fees they pay, the state could raise those fees (and revenue for CCC) with no net impact on most students. The purpose of this brief is to provide additional information—in a question-and-answer format—related to our recommendation.
June 10, 2009 - Presented to Senate Education Committee
June 10, 2009 - Presented to Senate Education Committee
June 5, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
June 1, 2009 - Presented to Budget Conference Committee
April 23, 2009 - Presented to Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education
April 22, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 On Education Finance
March 25, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 and Assembly Higher Education Committee
March 18, 2009 - Presented to Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2
January 29, 2009 - Director of Higher Education, Steve Boilard, discusses the fifth report in the LAO’s 2009-10 Budget Analysis Series.
January 29, 2009 - The Governor’s budget proposal includes $11.5 billion in General Fund support as well as $5.7 billion in other core funding for higher education in 2009-10. The proposed budget would increase university fees by almost $300 million while it would reduce state financial aid programs by $88 million. It also could reduce higher education enrollment by tens of thousands of students. We offer alternatives that would increase funding for state financial aid programs, increase enrollment targets well above the Governor's levels, and better account for student fee revenue.