Dear University of California Board of Regents, 

Please oppose ALL tuition increases for the University of California schools as well as the proposed increases of Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition (PDST) for graduate students. The proposal will increase tuition by at least 5% and up to 20% for some graduate programs. The UC Board of Regents will convene to vote on the proposal on November 19, 2014.

Please oppose a tuition increase because:

1. Students can barely afford the cost of school and are being priced out of a higher education.

2. A potential 5-8% tuition increase on UCLA School of Law students is a drastic increase to impose in a one year period. 

3. Students were not given a meaningful opportunity to participate in the proposal for a tuition increase.

4. Students and families do not have the opportunity for future financial planning when the price of an education keeps increasing.

5. Student loan debt is crippling our generation.

6. The poor job market and large amount of debt are making professional graduate degrees harder to obtain and worth less than promised.

Governor Jerry Brown has previously committed to raise state funding for UC schools by 4% for the next two years as long as the UC Board of Regents do not vote to increase tuition. In a recent statement, Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins, also a member of the UC Board of Regents, indicated that she would vote against the proposal: “By always leading with, and relying so heavily on student fee increases, UC avoids dealing with the tough work required to find other solutions.” Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon also opposes a UC tuition increase. 

Please join students, families, and our elected officials to oppose a tuition increase for the UC System.  

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.