UC Regents Approve Blue & Gold Plan

<p>The Blue and Gold Plan is similar to what occurred last year when most of the private universities, mostly the Ivies, got in a bidding war with one another regarding financial aid. The Board of Regents have approved it and it's settled to be voted on by the entire committee/board tomorrow. </p>

<p>It would cover fees and costs for those that fall under California's median income of $60,000. </p>

<p>Daily</a> Cal Article</p>

<p>"About 48,100 undergraduates would be eligible under the plan, according to university officials. The $3.1 million required to enact the plan for the 2009-10 academic year will be funded by increasing the proportion of student fees that go toward undergraduate financial aid."</p>

<p>Hmm, 3.1 million divided by 48,100 is about $60 per student. Is something missing in the report?</p>

<p>Hmmm...I wonder how all of this is going to be funded...They could cut some money out of Yudof's pay check ($828,000 per year). He earns twice as much as the President. His annual paycheck alone could help pay for the full tuition of about 41 more students.</p>

<p>Berkeley welcomes 4800 students as freshman every year. This year the number may be less. In any event, if 2000 of the students are from families with < 60 K in income, then $3.1 million would amount to $1550 per student. In practice, the real number would supplement Cal Grants and Pell Grants and so on as PART of a package.</p>

<p>Why don't we just make everyone take out an insane amount of loans?</p>

<p>Just because your parents make under a certain amount, doesn't mean you should get a break. What if your parents make over the 60k threshold, yet still can't afford college?</p>

<p>It seems like it would be simpler if they had one simple price, rather than a graduated system.</p>