Re: Question 3 - Student Fees

Education is the great equalizer in society, so ensuring that everyone has access to higher education opportunities is critical.  This includes continuing to ensure that college is affordable for lower-income students.  I believe that we are doing a good job at this by keeping fees down—truly, our higher education system is a bargain for students.  Nonetheless, California needs to continue endeavoring to increase financial aid opportunities for college students to ensure that those who still can't afford the low fees are able to attend school.

More privileged students should be required to pay a higher portion of fees, but I believe it is good policy to partially underwrite everyone since the state undoubtedly receives a benefit from an educated populace.  It is important to balance this subsidy through grants and financial aid.  Indeed, grants are an appropriate way to offset need.  However, need does not mean that financial responsibility is fully abdicated.  Since higher education is voluntary, there is no explicit state obligation to ensure full funding, so students should be held responsible for a portion of their education in loans.  Instead of moving to replace loans with grants, the state should encourage loan forgiveness programs for students who choose occupations that directly benefit the state—nursing and teaching careers for example.