The CSU Board of Trustees voted to raise student fees by 10 percent at its meeting today.

The trustees voted 17 to 2 to hike undergraduate student fees by $306 a semester in the 23-campus system beginning in the fall.

Lt. Gov. John Garamendi and student trustee Curtis Grima were the only members to oppose the increase.

“In a major economic downturn when families have lost their jobs and their homes, it has never been more important for the California State University system to be financially available to all qualified students to give them the opportunity to improve their lives and communities and contribute to the economy of the state of California,” Garamendi said. “But for the third year in a row, this tuition increase is really yet another tax on students that discourages qualified, hard working high school graduates from entering the CSU system.”

CSU Board Chair Jeffrey Bleich said that the increases were needed in order to maintain adequate funding at the campuses, considering recent cuts in state funding.

The CSU system has already cut fall enrollment by 10,000 students in response to budget cuts.

Sam Pearson can be reached at [email protected].