SCUP Links: State Universities Tap Student Fees for Unintended Projects

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Did you ever wonder why there are usually separate capital budgets from operating funds? This Los Angeles Times article by Jack Dolan highlights some California instances using student fees for capital-related expenditures in ways that have drawn some ire. Just avoiding articles that begin like this might be one good reason:

While California universities have faced round after round of crippling budget cuts and protests against increased fees have flared on campuses, administrators have tapped funds meant for classrooms and students to cover some extraordinary costs: losses on ill-timed real estate deals, loans to high-ranking officials and an ambitious construction project.

Experts say the moves, made without wide student knowledge or public oversight, show that administrators have put aggressive business plans ahead of the teaching mission. When things go wrong, they're dipping into student fees, scholarship funds and money meant for classes to pick up the tab.

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