Blog - Higher Education Campaign to Reclaim California's Master Plan

Imagine: a fully-funded higher education system in California

Posted by · March 16, 2015 4:07 PM

In 1960, California legislators joined with education leaders to develop and implement a visionary plan for higher education. The state’s Master Plan for Higher Education required that the state’s top 12.5% of high school graduates be accepted to UC, the top 33% accepted to the California State University (CSU), and that anyone could go to the state’s community colleges at no cost.

Back then, student fees were nearly zero and the state contributed more than 20% of UC’s budget. Since then, California has lost its way, with student fees skyrocketing to $30,000 and the state contributing just 7% of UC’s budget. But social justice minded unions, student groups, and community organizations within the University of California, the community colleges and CSUs are trying to resurrect the vision of higher education as the economic engine

of the state, forming the Reclaim California Higher Education Coalition.

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Remember the state’s Master Plan for Higher Education?

Posted by · December 17, 2014 9:20 PM

In 1960, California legislators joined with education leaders to develop and implement a visionary plan for higher education in California.

This plan saw education as the economic engine of the state, opening educational and economic opportunities to Californians who had been previously excluded.

The Master Plan laid out a system where the state’s top 12.5% of high school graduates would be accepted to UC, the top 33% accepted to the California State University, and anyone could go to the state’s community colleges at no cost.

Imagine: no student fees!

Back then, student fees were nearly zero and the state contributed more than 20% of UC’s budget.

Today, the state only contributes 7% of UC’s budget, while fees, books and housing add up to $30,000/year. Students who qualify for loans graduate with overwhelming debt. Many never come to UC, or drop out because of the immense financial burden.

We are working with unions, student groups, faculty, and anyone else interested in re-kindling the Master Plan’s vision. Our future looks so much brighter when we have affordable, accessible education of the highest quality.

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