After having the resilience to bounce back from two layoffs during the pandemic, I made the difficult choice to pursue a degree in my 30s in hopes of securing a career that matches my abilities and motivation to make a difference in the world. It has not been an easy journey. I am chronically ill and I will be the first person in my family to obtain a bachelor's degree, and yet the biggest barrier that stands in my way as a junior at Sacramento State is our funding; specifically, the ways those funds are distributed. 

My story is not unique, in fact, having a diverse student body is part of what makes Sac State a great place to learn and grow. Our university has prided itself in its ability to reach underserved and non-traditional students in an attempt to build a diverse student body, yet their current funding structure does not align with that goal. Attending a 4 year university always felt like a dream I’d never be able to achieve, now the same university that told me it was possible is going back on their promise in action.

After Gavin Newsom’s decision to drastically reduce CSU funding throughout the state, it has come to my attention that Sacramento State University has eliminated several administrative positions and reduced the number of available courses for the fall 2025 semester. As students, we understand that funds are limited, but we expect our education to take priority, especially in light of projected tuition increases over the next few years. We expect our university president to secure creative solutions that do not degrade the quality of our education. 

Our university promises students the ability to graduate within 4 years, yet considering a reduction in class availability while simultaneously increasing tuition fees directly undermines the educational prospects of students. Reducing the variety and frequency of classes amplifies the pressure on us students who are fighting to harmonize educational endeavors with life commitments. It stretches the duration of our degree completion, thereby escalating the financial burden due to increased tuition. 

While some of us have the privilege of exploring other institutions to complete our education in proper time and with the quality we were initially promised upon enrollment at Sac State, many of us do not. At best, many of us will incur additional debt as we are forced to prolong our education, at worst, many of us will be forced to drop out of school entirely. At a time when enrollment is low and federal funding for education and research are under attack, is this the best move for Sac State? Is this the legacy that President Wood, Chancellor Garcia, and the CSU board of trustees wants to achieve?

We understand that tuition increases help account for these difficult times in education, but we are not satisfied with our return on investment. We refuse to pay more to receive larger class sizes, less room for in depth discussion and feedback, fewer course offerings, a thinned administrative staff, elimination of the instructors who have worked tirelessly to support our growth, and an overall lower quality education than we were promised when we enrolled. 

Thus we propose:

• A freeze on current tuition rates for at least 2 years if courses and admin must be cut
• Appropriate cap sizes for course enrollment, offering more than one option for courses with high demand
• A voice in decisions regarding which classes are cut or made available each semester