OCC students wary of Prop. 92

Many OCC students question whether a proposition in February reducing student fee prices from $20 per unit to $15 per unit is worth it, considering many plan on transferring to four-year universities.

Proposition 92 would increase spending from kindergartens up to community colleges by about $300 million a year for the near future, according to the California Legislative Analysts’ Office.

This money, which would be guaranteed under state law, drains funding from California State University and University of California programs, UC officials say.

“How I would vote depends on where I’m situated,” said Trung Nguyen, an electronics major planning on transferring to Cal State Long Beach in a year. “I’d be for it right now, but in a year I’ll be against it.”

OCC nursing student John Sanchez said it would be nice to save, but a fee reduction does not change much.

“As if the American education system isn’t bad enough,” Sanchez said, “we’re going to take away money from some and save for others? If you can’t afford it, you can always get grants and loans and stuff.”

Proposition 92 has pitted many of higher education’s usual allies against each other.

The California Teachers Assn., which represents more than 340,000 faculty members in public schools and universities, opposes Proposition 92. Union leaders said giving the community colleges funding formula, based on demographics rather than attendance, is a mistake.

Proposition 92’s funding formula would be based on the number of 17- to 25-year-olds in the state whether or not they enroll in college. Because that demographic is expected to grow, union leaders fear that it will mean the state officials will have less money to give to the four-year universities.

“Community colleges seem to be the stepchild when it comes to educational funding,” said Jim Rogers, president of the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers. The California Federation of Teachers, the second-largest teacher’s union in California, supports Prop 92. The student senate for the California Community Colleges also supports the proposition.

Proposition 92 hinders future fee hikes for community colleges. The last time fees were hiked, in 2004 to $26 per unit, 305,000 fewer students enrolled in two-year schools.

Proponents hope lowering fees will bring a wave of new students.

Michelle Finger, 22, of OCC, thinks it’s an easy choice.

“Would you rather have your money at a community college or at a four-year university?” she said.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.