CSU student "success fees" in suspense, Trustee's workgroup convenes on-campus open forums

CSU Chancellor White

In January 2011, the CSU Chancellor reissued under one directive (Executive Order EO 1054) the "philosophical statement on fees and educational costs" adopted by the Trustees in 1993 and the most recently approved Fee Policy statement from May 2010. 

Based on the authority of EO 1054, the Chancellor approved the first in a series of "student success fees" in February of 2011 (Executive Order 1055).  Since then, the Chancellor has issued orders approving new fees at a dozen more campuses.

Responding to student protest, the Legislature placed a moratorium on any new fees until a review could be completed and presented for the lawmakers consideration. As reported in the Long Beach Press-Telegram (Cal State University reviews student success fees), the Trustee's workgroup for the review is composed of Chancellor Tim White, two college presidents, Trustee Douglas Faigin, and a student Trustee.

The group gave a presentation at the September 9th meeting of the Trustees and gave notice of three public meetings, starting today (09/22/2014) at CSU Northridge. The Chancellor is scheduled to open with remarks at the meeting today, at CSU Sonoma on September 26th, and at CSU Los Angeles on September 30th.

Quoted in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Chancellor White said "the Student Success Fees Working Group will review key policy and accountability measures currently in place to identify any revisions that may be required to ensure campus student success fee implementation  ... " 

With respect to the "philosophy" of the fee initiative, EO 1054 restates the 1993 policy: "The intent of this proposal is that the state subsidy would provide fundamental access to our university for students ... and that our pricing policies would enhance the quality of their educational experiences."

The intent is for the State to pay for a good education, while students ante up for better or best, or what they need to be a success. 

Reflecting on the State's history of providing a subsidy for higher education, the 1993 policy statement (restated in EO 1054) asked rhetorically, "does anyone believe that this financial generosity is likely to prevail again?" 

The CSU policy is that there must be a "clear focus" on "increased returns for California's investment"  and on "those who can pay."

Since 2011, new fees have been approved by the Chancellor for the following campuses:

• EO 1055 CSU Long Beach - Student Excellence Fund/Mandatory Materials, Services and Facilities Fee
• EO 1060 CSU San Bernardino - Campus Student Success, Graduation and Career Placement Fee
• EO 1066 CSU East Bay - Academic Access, Enhancement and Excellence Fee
• EO 1070 CSU Los Angeles - Student Success Fee
• EO 1075 CSU San Luis Obispo - Student Success Fee
• EO 1078 CSU San Jose - Student Success, Excellence and Technology Fee
• EO 1079 CSU Fresno - Freshman Summer Orientation Fee
• EO 1085 CSU Pomona - Student Success Fee
• EO 1086 CSU San Marcos - Academic Excellence and Student Success Fee
• EO 1091 CSU Bakersfield -Campus Programming and Spirit Program Fee
• EO 1092 CSU Fullerton - Student Success Fee
• EO 1093 CSU San Diego - Student Success Fee
• EO 1094 CSU Dominguez Hills - Student Success Fee

The added cost to students varies from campus to campus, as does the justification given in each of the authorizations. 

At San Luis Obispo (SLO), the extra revenue cannot be used to supplement or increase employee salaries.  In San Diego, 90% of the money is to be used to fund tenure-track faculty salaries beyond State support. Success comes at the highest price at SLO, where the latest add-on adds almost 10% to the tuition+fee total. 

For those who cannot attend the campus meetings, comment can be provided to the Chancellor and Trustees at the CSU Student Success Fee Feedback Forum.