University of California leaders decided to move forward to cut 4-10 percent of employees’ salaries and to take 11 to 26 furlough days.

• Faculty furlough days will vary depending on academic or 12-month calendars.
• Berkeley Lab employees are exempted under UC's contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Most student employees, such as graduate students, also are exempted, as well as personnel whose funding comes entirely from contracts and grants.
• To ensure essential patient services are not disrupted, alternate plans for achieving the required savings for some or all of the medical centers may be considered.
• Employees working reduced hours under the START program also may be exempt, if their reduced pay under START is already equal to or greater than the proposed cuts.
• Implementation of the plan for represented employees will be subject to collective bargaining agreements and all applicable laws.
This plan is expected to address approximately a quarter of the $813 million budget shortfall. Read more at "University of California"

Are students getting the shorter end of the stick? That’s what it seems like for 21–year-old anthropology major Richard Jimenez of UC Santa Barbara. Jimenez is the first to go to college in his family and received a full ride until now. His financial aid was cut in half and he is now forced to get loans, grants, scholarships and work two jobs to pay his tuition. Jimenez works as an office assistant at UCSB Arts and Lectures and a teller at Chase bank.

Have you been affected by UC’s budget cuts?
Student hours have been cut and places for us to study are no longer open late. People who used to study late at our dorms are now heading towards the library—the only place that stays opens until 12am. There aren’t many places for us study. One coffee shop that was part of our school was cut; they are closing at 6pm instead of 9pm. Classes are being cut. Classes that are needed for students’ majors are not being offered as much. Everybody is fighting for those classes. My major is anthropology and there aren’t many choices because they’re closing classes. It’s gotten to the point where I don’t plan ahead because the classes that I want to take are closed, so I have to get what’s open and snatch it.

Will you receive financial aid next semester?
Yes, but my financial aid will be reduced. I have to take out loans for the first time…. I went online and I saw I was eligible for loans and I was like, “what are all these loans?” I had my friend help me because I didn’t know the difference between this loan and the other one. I was expecting the cut because of the budget cuts, so I wasn’t too surprised.

How much did your financial aid get cut?
For the past 3 years it covered 100 percent of my tuition and I still had money for books Now, I have to make up half of my tuition and on top of that I have to buy books and personal necessities.

How will you pay for your tuition now?
I have a job right now but I don’t get a lot of hours … at least it is something. I also started working at a bank and I’ll be working full time. I applied at the bank thinking that it’s going to help me out with understanding loans. My parents are also helping me. They each have two jobs. There are times that my mom doesn’t come home and stays at her job instead. My dad only comes home just to switch work clothes.

What are your future goals once you graduate?
I want to pursue graduate school. I want to continue and get into advertising. When I finish I have to pay for all those loans and that’s why I decided to get a job. I have to save money for when graduation comes because loans will be waiting for me. I have to save money this year.

What keeps you motivated through out these hard times?
Throughout this process I keep reminding myself that I have to continue and save money. I can leave any time; no one is forcing me to continue school, but I do this because I want to. I want this education and I’ll do anything to get it and finish it.

 

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