Proposed tuition hike approved

A proposed tuition hike has been approved by a committee of the University of California governing board.

The committee voted 7-2 Wednesday to approve the plan recommended by UC President Janet Napolitano that would raise tuition in each of the next five years.

The proposed tuition hikes still must be reviewed by the full Board of Regents on Thursday, and it could be approved then.

Napolitano said the increases are needed to protect the quality of education in the face of insufficient state funding.

Tuition rates at the 10 UC schools have been frozen for three years.

Under the plan, the average annual cost of a UC education for California residents would go up $612 to $12,804 next fall and to $15,564 in fall 2019.

The descending votes came from Gov. Jerry Brown and the student regent.