College District Adopts Fee Hike for Foreign Students

Despite pleas from foreign students, Ventura County Community College District officials Saturday decided to charge them an average of $150 more each year to attend classes.

Officials said they plan to use the extra fees from 259 foreign students at Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges for maintenance and for construction of new buildings on the three campuses.

The college district’s board of trustees voted to add $5 per unit for foreign students, saying that most of them do not work and do not pay taxes, and should therefore contribute their fair share. Foreign students are considered those who have not established U.S. citizenship.

“I think we should take care of our own citizens first,” said board President Gregory P. Cole.

Student board member Jason Henderson shot back, “It’s a great idea to put America first . . . . But these students are here because they want to be a part of America.”

After debate that lasted nearly two hours, the board voted 4 to 1 to impose the fee. Board member Pete Tafoya cast the lone dissenting vote.

Foreign students now pay an average of $3,300 a year in tuition and fees compared to $300 in fees charged to state residents. Students from other states also pay tuition until they establish California residency, which takes a year. Foreign students cannot establish California residency.

“This increase will discourage international students from coming here and getting their education,” said Louise Modig, a 23-year-old Oxnard College student from Sweden who is studying business management.

Linda Calderon, an international student specialist at Oxnard College, also argued against the new fee. “These students are paying taxes. Every time they buy a car, or buy clothes, they are paying taxes.”

Board member Timothy Hirschberg said the elected trustees have a duty first to their constituents.

“There’s no question that foreign students add immeasurably to our campuses, but asking current taxpayers to subsidize foreign students isn’t fair to our taxpayers,” Hirschberg said.

Tafoya, however, argued that foreign students are already paying the full cost of their instruction and are not being subsidized. He accused his fellow board members of being short-sighted.

“Many of these students stay here and become citizens,” Tafoya said. Their education, he said, prepares them to become productive members of society. “It’s an investment.”

Tafoya said the estimated $25,000 to $40,000 the new fee will generate is minuscule compared to the millions of dollars involved in maintenance and construction of buildings at the campuses.

“They are going to be major contributors to our economic future, and we’re nickeling and diming them to death,” Tafoya said.

In other action, the board voted to also charge foreign students a one-time $50 fee to pay for processing their applications. If the students decide to attend Moorpark, Oxnard or Ventura colleges, then the money would be applied to their tuition, officials said.

“This is directed at those students who are shopping the colleges and who have no intention of coming here,” said Jeff Marsee, vice chancellor of administrative services.

College officials said they did not know how many foreign students actually apply and later change their minds.