Dear UC Santa Cruz Student:
I'm delighted that you are pursuing your educational goals at the University of California, Santa Cruz. In the years to come, I'm confident that you and your family will consider your time here to have been a very sound investment in your future.
As you and your family know first-hand, state reductions in support for public higher education have led to increased fees that are straining the ability of some to continue their education. That is true at UC Santa Cruz, on other UC campuses, and on California State University campuses as well.
While I want to assure you that I and other UC representatives continue to make the case for additional state support for our 10-campus system to ensure we continue to be the top public research university in the world, I am writing for another very important reason.
I write today to make certain you know of the steps that the UC system has taken in recent months that will help many current students finance a UCSC education. I urge you to share this letter with parents or other family members.
- In the 2010-11 year, UC's Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan will be expanded to include eligible resident undergraduates with family incomes up to $70,000. Under the higher income ceiling, California residents with financial need and family incomes of $70,000 or below are assured that they will receive gift assistance that will, at a minimum, cover all their mandatory systemwide fees during the academic year.
- Other students with financial need will have half of the 2010-11 fee increase covered if their parents' income falls below $120,000 - an increase in the cap from $100,000 in prior years. Middle-income families also will continue to benefit from federal higher education tax credits in 2010.
- As UC historically has done, 33 percent of the revenue generated from the approved fee increases will be set aside to mitigate the impact of higher fees and other costs on undergraduate students with financial need.
- This "return-to-aid" practice, combined with 2009-10 increases in Cal Grants, federal Pell Grants and federal tuition tax credits will provide enough additional resources to cover the full amount of the fee increases already approved for 2009-10, and the 2009-10 mid-year increase, for nearly three-quarters of UC students with family incomes below $180,000.
To ensure you get all the financial aid you're entitled to, you need to do your part.
First, submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before March 2, 2010. I urge every UC Santa Cruz student, regardless of family income, to complete this free online application. It is the gateway to all financial aid, including most UCSC scholarships and low-interest student and parent loans.
Also, families are encouraged to take full advantage of the American Opportunity Tax Credit for couples with adjusted gross incomes of up to $180,000 ($90,000 for single filers). This credit will directly reduce your tax bill, providing up to $2,500 to help cover your college expenses.
Links to the FAFSA application, the IRS page on college tax credits, and UC's Blue & Gold information can all be found on a special Paying for UCSC web site our campus has created for students and families.
The page also has a link to the campus's Financial Aid and Scholarship Office web site. If you have questions or just need help, please do not hesitate to phone, email, or just visit the office.
Even during these challenging financial times, you can earn your UCSC degree. And our Financial Aid and Scholarship staff are here to help.
Sincerely,
George R. Blumenthal
Chancellor, University of California, Santa Cruz
