When this article was first published on Jan. 29, 2010, [X]press misquoted SF State President Corrigan. In his speech to the University Budget Committee, he said "I am enormously pleased with the attitude of faculty, staff and students on this campus."

SF State President Robert Corrigan announced a 10 percent fee increase for the fall 2010 semester at a meeting of the University Budget Committee on Jan. 28, 2010.

Although fees will go up, Corrigan said there would not be an attempt to continue furloughs for next semester due to the governor's proposed budget which allocated $305 million back to the CSU system. Even with the raise in fees, SF State's proposed budget for next year shows a projected shortfall of roughly $18.7 million, due in part to decreased enrollment.

"It is not an exaggeration to say this is the most difficult time in the history of this institution," Corrigan said.

SF State's 2010-2011 budget projection did not include any of the university's share of the $305 million the governor had proposed to restore to the CSUs, which is estimated to be $18.5 million.

"At the worst, they cut us back to what we received this year and we receive no additional funds," said Vice President of Administration and Finance Leroy Morishita. Morishita explained that the university would not plan a budget with the assumption they are guaranteed funding.

Last November, the CSU Board of trustees voted on the 10 percent fee increase for fall. However, the board has so far been against a second 10 percent fee increase, which had been proposed on top of the already-agreed-upon raise in student fees.

"The board continues to resist any additional fee increase," Corrigan said, "it was very difficult to get the board to agree to the proposed 10 percent fee increase that has been written into the proposed budget."

In December 2005, the cost for a full-time class schedule was $1,564. This recent December, a full-time class schedule was $2,370. And now many students are upset and angry with an additional 10 percent.

"I think it's bullshit," said 20-year-old, international student and International Business major Matteo Lupini. "I'm paying so much ... because of my student visa I'm not allowed to work outside of campus and I couldn't get a job on campus. It's hard, I've no spending money."

"Don't we already pay more tuition," said Ryan Erfe, an 18-year-old undeclared freshman. "They can't keep raising it higher and higher."

But even with fee increases, other possible solutions for balancing the budget are still costly to students. "The problem is still we don't have enough money," Morishita said. "If we revise this shortfall, it is still that we will not have restored our budget to what it was a year ago."

The committee discussed the benefits of attempting to institute a half furlough program, using a mandated 12 days over the course of the year rather than the existing 24. Currently the proposed budget does not include any furloughs for faculty and staff.

Other ideas raised included having students pay on a per unit basis and of the creation of a third tier to the tuition system. This tier would require students to pay higher tuition if taking more than 16 units during a semester. Charging a higher tuition for students whose studies have lasted beyond the traditional four years was also an idea.

"There is a lot of discussion going around on how can we do that," remarked Morishita at the idea of a separate tuition price. "But I'm not saying it will be done in time for this fiscal year."

Similar to last year there will be no hiring of new faculty this year, according to Corrigan, but the University will attempt to fill some vacated non-academic positions.

In the face of these financial difficulties, Corrigan acknowledged how supportive everyone on campus has been, explaining that he has not received "a single letter or a single phone call from an employee to complain about the loss of income due to the furlough program.

"I am enormously pleased with the attitude of faculty and students on this campus," he said, "they have been put under enormous pressures."