HO'S YO R 5 Alook Ill different Christm11s lftlditions. • PAGES 16& 17
Monday, Dec. 5, 2005
www. the-telescope.com
Palomar College, San Marcos, Calif.
UCs and Cal States raise tuition for 5th straight year
Task force recommends S2.1 million po&ce budget
By Donnie Boyle THE TELESCOPE
Palomar students transferring to a University of California or California State University campus in the fall of 2006 may have to pay more for their education than originally planned - much more. An 8 percent tuition increase for undergraduates and a 10 percent increase for graduate students marks the fifth straight year that both systems have raised fees, and more increases are planned for the next several years. The University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees approved the identical tuition hikes in late October and early November. The latest hikes mean that Cal State fees have increased by 90 percent since the 2001-2002 academic year, while UC fees rose 80 percent during the same period. Theresa Hogan Egkan, Palomar College's Transfer Center director, said it is too early to determine what impact the latest round of fee hikes will have. Egkan said she has not heard many students discussing the hikes and most transfer students are focused on what classes to take in order to transfer. "Right now most students are applying," Egkan said. ''They may not be looking at the financial aspects yet." It may be impossible for students to calculate how much an education will cost - especially using today's tuition prices. When the Cal State trustees approved the latest hike, they also tentatively approved a plan that would raise tuition by 10 percent per year through the end of the decade. UC regents approved a similar plan. For students at the 23 Cal State campuses, that means that the $1,428 students paid per semester in 2001 will cost $2,427 in 2006 and $3,984 in 2010. UC students paid $3,564 in 2001 and will pay $6,633 in 2006 and tuition at the system's 10 campuses will continue to climb based on enrollment and state funding. The recent hikes come as a result of the "Governor's Compact for Higher Education," which was an agreement signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the CSU chancellor and the UC president. The agreement reduced funding, while protecting both systems from future budget cuts. The compact also mandated fee increases through 20062007, but does not require further hikes beyond that year. Palomar College President Robert Deegan said he believed that the hike will not affect Cal State and UC enrollment, but could impact Palomar's. "Access is always an issue when fees go up," Deegan said. "We may see more students deciding to come to Palomar to do their first two years and other students may decide to stay here longer - it makes sense financially." Egkan agreed with Deegan and said more students may need to seek financial aid in order to meet their educational goals.
By Donnie Boyle THE TELESCOPE
STEPHANIE TOMBRINCK I THE TELESCOPE
U.S. Army recruiter William Edwards (left} writes down his information for Chula Vista Police Department recruiter Eric Farwell during the Job Fair on Nov. 30.
Job Fair returns The companies set tables up along the walkway adjacent to the At the first Job Fair at Palomar Student Services Building, where College in three years, 83 companies many offered job applications. Dise said Career Services offers searched for prospective employees counseling and resume workshops to at the San Marcos campus Nov. 30. "The main purpose of this event is to help students who are looking for help increase student retention," said work. "Career Services is really about Career Services Director John Dise. "'f students need money to help them pay helping students find a purpose in life for the cost of college, this is a chance •SEE JOB Fill, PACE 24 for them to make that happen." By Thomas May
THE TELESCOPE
The Police Review Task Force, which voted in April to recommend keeping an armed police force on campus, released its final report. The recommendations include an armed force with a $2.3 million 20062007 budget and a proposal to raise student-parking fees from $35 to the $40 maximum OF allowed by law. The report was presented at the Strategic Planning Council's Nov. 15 meeting and several SPC members said the report will likely be accepted at the council's Dec. 6 meeting. In response to questions about specific recommendations within the report and missing data in its ''justification" section, Palomar College President Robert Deegan and Vice President of Student Services Joe Madrigal said SPC will only be accepting the report and not adopting the recommendations. "All we (SPC members) will be doing is accepting the report and thanking the members for their work," Deegan said. "It is only one step in the process. The next thing we have to do is hire a permanent chief to help examine the rest of the recommendations." Students and faculty members have questioned whether their groups were adequately represented on the task force and whether or not student input was sought, especially in light of a recommendation to raise parking fees. • SEE
POLICE, PACE 26
B John Asbury T E TELESCOPE
A Palomar College student support program was awarded a $1.5 million grant by the US Department of Education, which was commemorated by federal officials during a Nov. 30 ceremony in the Governing Board Room. Denise Rodriguez-Lopez, the deputy White House director for an initiative on Hispanic education and Tom Boivin, a Department of Education special assistant, commended Palomar for its TRIO student outreach program. The grant guarantees the TRIO program will continue at Palomar for the next five years. After placing in the top 10 percent of all universities that applied for the grant, the program received an additional $250,000, which will finance an additional year, said TRIO director Calvin One Deer. "We aim to provide the basic skills and welcome students at all levels," said college president Robert Deegan. "Anyone with a spark has a chance to succeed and we will feed that spark until it becomes a flame."
Where Educational oreams Become ARea\ityH
STEPHANIE TOMBRINCK I THE TU ESCOPE
Di'ector of IRrt-Funded ~Cam One Deer Gam introduces Delise R~ Lopez, the deputy lfrector of the Wlite House lliliative on EWcational Excelence for Hispalic Americ:a1s. R~-Lopez and a representative from the US Deparbnent of EWcation visited Palomar to honor the colege's TRIO IJI'OVcll11.