‘Keeping the Faith at UC’

The list of remedies to the UC admissions crush you proposed in the editorial “Keeping the Faith at UC” (Feb. 22) omitted mention of one important option. In addition to funneling more would-be UC students through the California State University and community college systems and building more UC campuses, the state would do well to consider strengthening its commitment to providing aid for California students wishing to attend independent institutions of higher education. A mechanism for providing such aid, in the form of the Cal Grant A and Cal Grant B programs, is already in place.

These programs make funds available to academically eligible, financially needy and even middle-income students to assist them in paying tuition at independent colleges and universities. Beyond broadening access to higher education, these programs have the effect of lessening the pressure on already overflowing UC and CSU campuses.

Historically, the Cal Grant A program was intended in part to enable students to choose an independent college, thereby helping the state make efficient use of these institutions. As the purchasing power of these grants declined over time, however, and they were less successful at performing their intended function of closing the gap between the price of public and independent higher education, Cal Grants were increasingly used to fund public higher education. UC’s share, for example, climbed from 5.5% to nearly 8%.

The Cal Grant A and B programs have the further effect of helping Whittier College and many other fine independent institutions defray the increasing cost of providing high quality educational opportunities to Californians.

EUGENE S. MILLS

President

Whittier College