Whereas, the cost of a higher education should NOT be a barrier to anyone accessing a UC education;

Whereas, UC undergraduate student fees have doubled in the past five years, making it less accessible for Californians to afford and therefore access a UC education;

Whereas, undergraduates now pay $8,100 in student fees, but their total cost of attendance (housing books, etc) is over $25,300, resulting in undergraduates graduating with at least $20,000 in debt;

Whereas, according to the National College Board, financial barriers alone prevent nearly one-half of all college-qualified low- and moderate-income high school graduates from enrolling in a four-year program of college;

Whereas, State General Funds are the major revenue source for the UC, but the state-per-student funding has fallen 40% since 1990 with the state spending $2,470 less per student today than it did in 1990 (in 2006-2007 constant dollars);

Whereas, for every dollar spent on the UC the state profits $3 in return;

Whereas, this year the Governor is proposing a 9.3% tuition increase, bringing the total cost of a UC undergrad education to $26,104;

Whereas, the Governor’s budget is also proposing a $209.9 million cut to the UC, which leads to the elimination of funding for enrollment growth, an  $87.5 million cut to CalGrants, the elimination of the Competitive CalGrant, and freezing income eligibility limits to be able to receive the CalGrants without matching the fee increase;

Whereas, the Board of Regents did NOT submit a fee increase in their budget to the Legislature despite the proposed cuts to the UC, showing that this bill is in line with that proposal;

Whereas, the College Affordability Act of 2009 will freeze fees for 5 years for resident undergrads, prevent any future fee increases from surpassing the inflation index, and raise revenue by a 1% tax on California tax-payer's income over $ 1million;

Therefore, be it resolved, that ASUCI is in support of the California Affordability Act of 2009;

Therefore, be it further resolved, that ASUCI will show support of the California Affordability Act of 2009 by participating in the U.C. Student Association’s Education Week of Action on February 9- February16, 2009, sending a delegation of students to the 2009 Student Lobby Conference in Sacramento to lobby for the CAA 2009, collect postcards, and to participate in future Weeks of Actions that will help pass the CAA 2009 through the legislative process.