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Students, Parents, Community Demand: Tuition Relief Now!

One of the barriers to graduates considering nonprofit work is the reality of ever-increasing student debt. There are many efforts to address this problem, and one that is attracting national attention is a grassroots state-wide campaign called Tuition Relief Now! This California-based initiative has students, parents, and community members working together to pass a statewide ballot initiative to make the University of California and California State University more affordable. By mobilizing thousands of students across 30 public university campuses, the organization aims to qualify for November 2008 ballot. A corollary effect of this effort will likely be massive youth voter registration and turnout.


Photo by Monica's Dad on Flickr As with many higher education institutions, the UC and CSU tuition rates have almost doubled in the past six years. While this issue undoubtedly affects students, it also has repercussions for the housing market, nonprofit workforce, and state economy.

Tuition Relief Now has four specific goals to help the state’s higher education systems continue to make college affordable, including a five-year tuition freeze for instate students and establishing a tuition rate-increase limit.

There are plenty of ways you can get involved. Here are just a few:

1. Become a volunteer or paid campus organizer to help get signatures before the April 17th deadline
2. Recruit volunteers to help with the canvassing and outreach
3. Start your own chapter of Tuition Relief Now!
4. Host an event or discussion group to help raise awareness

For more information on ways you can connect with, volunteer for, or find out more about this campaign, visit their website: www.tuitionreliefnow.org