In 1960, the State of California passed the Master Plan for Higher Education.  The Master Plan recognized education as a public good and called for free higher education for all eligible California students. 

In the years following the establishment of the Master Plan, the UC, CSU, and community college systems flourished.  It is no accident that during the next forty years, California became one of the most dynamic economies in the world--an economy based on knowledge. 

But in 2004, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and the heads of the UC and CSU systems signed an agreement that redefined higher education as a private good.  This compact gave permission to the UC Regents to increase tuition up to 10% a year. 

On November 19, the UC Regents VOTED TO RAISE TUITION BY 32%.  This increase will place a UC education beyond the reach of many hard-working students throughout the state.  We cannot let this happen.