As the semester comes to a close, students, administrators and faculty at Sacramento State are bracing for a jump in tuition costs.

The system-wide fee hike authorized by California State University trustees on Wednesday for fall 2008 tuition aims to reduce the impact of budget cuts expected from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget.

By raising fees, CSU officials said they will bring in an additional $110 million of revenue.

Joseph Sheley, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said even though tuition fees were raised, it was a success for the Alliance for the CSU, because the cuts have been reduced from a projected $322 million to $215 million.

“The governor certainly heard the message,” Sheley said. “Keep up the pressure because the budget still has to get through the legislature and it won’t be nice.”

Bob Buckley, lecturer for the Computer Science Department and statewide senator at-large of Academic Affairs, said the fee increase was done before the budget was finalized in order to allow the financial aid office enough time to recalculate its figures and to give students time to get finances together.

Buckley said that when fees increased two years ago, the increase came late, resulting in several problems for students and administrators.

Some of the revenue generated by the fee increase will go to financial aid to offset the costs incurred by low income students, said Emiliano Diaz, director of Outreach, Admissions and Records.

“There will be resources available for students who have need,” Diaz said.

Joseph Chantry, freshman business major, was understanding of the fee hike and said if the CSU needs the money, then it is ok.

“Most students get financial aid, anyway,” said Chantry.

Heather Davis, a freshman nursing major, said she hopes CSU officials looked into every possible method of reducing costs before raising tuition fees.

“They could have done energy cost savings or something,” said Davis. “I’m glad they aren’t cutting classes, though. It’s hard enough to find classes I need already.”

The fee increase will bump undergraduate fees up by $276, increasing the average annual tuition among CSU campuses to $3,797.

Additionally, graduate fees will go up by $342, while teaching credential student fees will increase by $324.

Derek Fleming can be reached at [email protected]