From fighting to get into a class because the cutbacks have decreased the number of classes available, to getting put on wait lists with no guarantee of getting in, obtaining a college education is becoming an upward struggle.
The latest hurdle Ventura County Community College District students may be facing is a class fee increase by almost double. Classes may soon be $40 a unit instead of the $26 as it is now.
This increase in cost will make it very hard for many students to afford community college. Instead of paying the average $780 per year for two 15-unit semesters, students would be paying tuition at $1,200 for 15 units in 2 semesters.
According to Moorpark College President Pam Eddinger, the best thing to do if it comes to this and students have to pay the $40 a unit they should try to get financial aid and fill out the FAFSA.
“Apply for financial aid. It is the single most important thing a student can do to offset rising cost,” said Eddinger. “Do not wait until the bill is in your hand before filling out the application.”
One of the main reasons students go to community college is the price; it’s low compared to four year universities. It’s a great opportunity to get an associates degree or to complete general education requirements before transferring to a university. Although the increase is small compared to that of a university, it is still doubling the cost of what classes used to be. If it’s getting doubled, who is to say it will stop there? And if community college class prices are going up, will the universities follow?
Amidst the discombobulation of all these potential wallet-draining financial increases we are facing, it is important to look at where the changes are coming from and to give credit where it truly belongs.
It is far too easy of a trap that many of students fall into to simply blame the college administrators at the district, but we must realize that they are given a certain budget by the state. They are given limits on how much money they can spend on education based on the state budget, so it’s not necessarily their fault that students have fee increases.
They are most likely trying to do the best job they can in providing students with a good, affordable education.
The budget cuts are a part of the national economic crisis we are in. Currently our country is facing a national debt of over $12.3 trillion, that is about $40,000 per citizen, $113,000 per taxpayer, and President Obama just signed a bill that will enable the national debt to be raised to $14.3 trillion.
In this struggle, everyone must become educated about the issues. We must explore the origins of the debt, find solutions and find out which politicians are making choices that are putting us into more debt, or working to keep us out of debt.
The class fee increase is just the tip of the iceberg in the budget problems students of VCCCD face. We must try to figure out a solution before it sinks us.
