8.6% Tuition Hike Proposed for Cal State System in ’88

Annual tuition at the 19 campuses of the California State University would increase next year by 8.6% for most students under a budget approved unanimously Tuesday by the school’s Board of Trustees.

Full-time students who are California residents would pay $684 a year and part-timers from within the state would pay $396 a year, according to the $1.5-billion budget proposal sent to the governor.

Tuition for out-of-state students would jump from $5,040 to $5,364, a 6.4% increase. But non-California residents are expected to make up only about 3% of the university’s projected enrollment of 260,000 full-time and 80,000 part-time students in 1988-89.

Additional Student Fees

Most students have additional fees to pay, such as for student activities, parking or dormitory housing. Those differ from campus-to-campus. However, a furor erupted last month when monthly parking rates were doubled at most campuses to as high as $18.

In another action, the trustees named Herbert L. Carter to the new post of executive vice chancellor. Carter, 54, who has been vice chancellor in charge of administration for the last five years, will serve as second in command to Cal State Chancellor W. Ann Reynolds. The decision to hire an executive vice chancellor followed a controversial review of Reynolds’ performance earlier this year. Some trustees have sharply criticized her for traveling too much and not paying enough attention to details at the system’s Long Beach headquarters.

The Cal State budget for next year is 8.5% higher than this year’s mainly because of inflation, a small enrollment growth and the need for better maintenance of campus buildings, officials said. It also calls for funds to improve computer systems for student use and to start a program for faculty recruitment.

“It is not an elaborate budget. But it is a responsible one,” said Chancellor Reynolds.

The budget now goes to the governor and state Department of Finance for review and possible changes. It is expected to be submitted to the Legislature in March.

Carter will fill a post that was abolished when Reynolds became chancellor five years ago. William Vandament was second in command in a combined post as provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. However, Vandament retired last spring.

Carter’s job is designed to help Reynolds with day-to-day administration, according to a Cal State spokesman.

Federal Assistance Sought

Carter, a sociologist who has been at Cal State in various positions for nearly 15 years, said his appointment should not be interpreted “as a negative commentary on the chancellor’s performance. That would be incorrect.”

The trustees on Tuesday also formally passed a resolution asking for federal assistance to repair damage caused on campuses by the recent earthquake and aftershocks. Cal State officials estimate they need $21 million for repairs, most of that at Cal State Los Angeles, where a student was crushed to death by a falling concrete slab during the quake. Reynolds stressed that the Cal State system cannot afford to make repairs by itself but she is optimistic the school will receive emergency financial aid from the state and national governments.