American Students Victimized by Education Theft

By Joe Guzzardi
April 19, 2012

California high school students who hope to attend a UC campus got another dose of bad news earlier this week. According to preliminary data released by the University of California, Office of the President, UC accepted a record number of 80,289 freshmen for this fall, including a 43 percent increase in students from outside California who would pay higher tuition. Assuming on campus residency, instate residents’ tuition and fees total $13,000; out of state is nearly three times higher, $36,000.

For the coming fall semester, UC accepted 18,846 out-of-state and international students, compared to 13,144 last year. By comparison, the number of California residents admitted increased by only 3.6 percent, from 59,288 students to 61,443 students.

You don’t have to be Einstein to figure out what’s going on. California, forever in the midst of a huge budget crisis, needs every dime. Gov. Jerry Brown has proposed spending 21 percent less on higher education in 2012-13 than the state did in 2007-08. During the same period, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, undergraduate resident tuition has soared by 84 percent.

University administrators are comforted by knowing that no matter how much they raise tuition, the demand remains strong especially from overseas students who have deep pockets to go with their desire to get a toehold in American society—first through university admission, second in the job market and finally as citizens. While that may sound like the quintessential, romantic immigrant success story, it often comes at the expense of struggling Americans.

International students enroll in state sponsored schools funded by, in this case, California taxpayers. Over dozens of decades, their tax dollars generated by their hard work have built these universities for the express benefit of their children.

Every incoming freshman seat, at either UC or Cal State, awarded to a non-Californian hurts California students’ chances of success, short and long term. Non-Californians include the DREAMers, foreign nationals, illegally here, who have enrolled in the university system at preferential tuition rates and perpetrate what I call education theft.

California’s fiscal crisis never seems to cause reconsideration of costs to educate aliens in the public school system. After benefiting from taxpayer funded K-12 educations to the tune of about $10 billion annually, aliens have enjoyed instate college tuition breaks since 2001 when AB 540 passed. Last year, Brown signed AB 131 that will qualify aliens for Cal Grants, previously available only to citizens. Brown originally estimated that implementing AB 131 would cost $14 million but the Legislative Analyst’s Office then upgraded the total to a scandalously unaffordable $40 million.

In crazy California, when it comes to alien entitlements, anything goes. While most American’s can’t understand how California can slash social services to the aged and infirm at the same time that it lavishes benefits on young illegal aliens, natives and long time residents are well acquainted with the pandering pattern.

Here’s an interesting story that comes from Ohio. A mother of two was sentenced to 10 days in jail and placed on three year probation after sending her kids to a school district in which they did not live. The children’s father was charged with defrauding (robbing) the school district out of educational services—fourth degree felony grand theft—and fined $30,000.

Although the Ohio case is extreme, it makes an important point. When classroom space is limited as it is in California colleges, taking seats away from students who deserve them in favor of those who don’t inflicts harm on those unfairly turned away.

Foreign born nationals have accredited universities in their native countries. Those students should go home, enroll, graduate and then get in line to come to the United States legally. Butting in is always rude.

Joe Guzzardi, a Los Angeles native and a Californians for Population Stabilization Senior Writing Fellow has written nationally syndicated columns since 1986. Contact him at [email protected]