CU supports lower tuition for undocumented students

The CU Board of Regents voted Feb. 1 to support Senate Bill 15, a bill that would create a third tuition rate for undocumented students who attend high school in Colorado.

As it stands, tuition rates are either in-state or out-of-state, but if this bill passes, there would be a third level of tuition rates for undocumented students called the "standard rate."

The CU Board of Regents consists of nine members – five republicans and four democrats. The decision to support the bill came down to the last vote, with Republican Tillman Bishop tipping the scale as he sided with the democrats to pass the bill.

Kyle Hybl, the representative of the 5th Congressional District, including Colorado Springs, voted not to support the bill.

Colorado Senate Bill 15 "requires an institution of higher education to classify a student [pending certain qualifications] as a standard-rate student." The standard rate is approximately 20 percent higher than in-state tuition and 60 percent lower than out-of-state tuition.

A student may qualify for standard-rate tuition so long as the student has completed the last three years of high school education in Colorado and received a diploma or GED.

The student must also provide the university with information stating that they are in the process of obtaining legal citizenship, and the student is not eligible for federal financial aid.

The implications of such a bill go beyond the ethics of it, for whether morally opposed to the bill or not, it is predicted to be a significant source of revenue for universities.

UCCS graduating senior Melody Klema agreed with the Regents, expressing that undocumented students are not going anywhere; "most have lived here their entire lives…and they are going to need a degree to find a good job."

She added that, "as a country, we should want more people that are living here to go to college," and furthermore, they are contributing more to society, "through going to college than staying at home living with remedial jobs."

Colorado Senate Bill 15 has passed through two sessions of the senate with just one remaining before it moves on to the house; this last session is scheduled for Feb. 20.