With the ongoing budget cuts to the University of California education system, classes have been cut, tuition raised, teachers laid off, and worker salaries have suffered a direct impact.
Although
the passage of Proposition 30 last year and the subsequent budget deal ensured
that the cost of tuition would not increase for the 2013-2014 school year, and
California mayor Jerry Brown’s spending plan is aimed toward financial growth
for the UC system, state funding is still decreasing and the future of the
budget unstable.
The
Universities of California remain outstanding in the U.S. News rankings of best
public universities in the country, with six of the nine UCs in the top 15
earlier this year.
In
maintaining the reputation and integrity of the UC education system, and in
order to provide students with the best resources possible, an understanding of
the importance of philanthropy is crucial.
Without
significant contribution to the university by its students, the UC system lacks
not only funding, but also the tradition of passionate and proactive student
leaders the system is renowned for producing.
Many
universities have private foundations or programs specifically dedicated to
raising money for student scholarships and resources. These programs both
foster student involvement and a philanthropic culture that emphasizes the
importance of giving back to universities in order to provide for future
classes and support the universities’ programs.
If
students hope to see change in the UC system, it begins with the students
themselves. Not only can they instill a culture of giving, but they can also
promote awareness of university needs to future generations.
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