RE: Question 3: Student Fees

First, brief answers to the specific subquestions:
1) Yes, there should be more student aid in the form of grants and work.  As long as we face a serious grant/loan imbalance and we graduate people with too much debt, we need to continue to increase our grant funds.
2) The question seeks an opinion on higher fees for people of higher incomes.  That is not the normal method and it would create serious bureaucratic problems.  The more accepted approach is to raise fees/tuition for all students and then cover the increase with student aid for those who cannot afford it.  Differential fees are a quagmire of paperwork.

I think inclusion of the following points would strengthen the current document (some are implied but not directly voiced):

1.  Affirm the inextricable relationship between fee policy and student aid policy.
2.  Affirm the central role of money in access to higher education.
3.  Recognize the historic nature of California's new "Entitlement" program and make it central to continued access.
4.  Recognize the federal government as the key partner and most significant source of funds and further recognize that state policy must complement federal policy or opportunities will be wasted.
5.  Recognize that the outreach function in K-12 and in adult service programs is as important as funded programs.  If people do not know about opportunities they will not adequately prepare.
6.  Be sure that state and federal student aid programs recognize the total cost of education for a student (books, supplies, dorms, transportation, etc.,) and are never based upon a notion that fees = cost.  
7.  Acknowledge that the State needs to undertake quality research regarding its fee policies and its student aid policies (and maintain such research on a permanent basis).  


Well...this is far too long already!  Thanks.