<p>Offering an unexpected election-year gift to 650,000 California students and their parents, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will ask the Legislature to cancel a hefty fee increase scheduled for next year at the state's public colleges and universities, administration officials said Wednesday.</p>
<p>For university students, Schwarzenegger is proposing to "buy out" the approved fee increase for the 2006-07 school year, saving CSU undergraduates $204 and UC students $492. Students in graduate schools, teacher credentialing programs, and law and medical schools also would be spared a planned 10% fee increase for the year.</p>
<p>If approved by the Legislature, the fee break would undoubtedly be welcome news to public university students who have seen four straight years of fee hikes as state lawmakers have struggled to offset large and persistent budget shortfalls.</p>
<p>Currently, UC undergraduates pay $6,141 in mandatory systemwide fees a year and CSU undergraduates pay $3,164, and both were facing an 8% increase next year. Students also pay fees imposed by each campus, as well as room, board and books.</p>
<p>Financially, this is the best news for college students in a long time. </p>
<p>Student costs rising less than inflation. Amazing.</p>
<p>Hopefully, other places will do the same thing.</p>