Schwarzenegger Promises Funding To UC System

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met with education officials this week and asserted his support for the state's embattled college system.

The Daily Californian reports:

...Schwarzenegger pledged his commitment to maintaining the funding levels for higher education outlined in his proposed state budget for 2010-11.

"In the private meetings we have just had with our education leaders I have made it very clear I will not sign a budget unless (higher education) funds are there," he said.

Schwarzenegger's proposed budget restores around $370 million in funding for the UC system, though it cuts $45 million from the Cal Grant program.

The discussion also revolved around a new report of recommendations to aid the ailing system:

The report presents three recommended modifications to the Master Plan, including raising the percentage of in-state high school students eligible for enrollment in the UC and CSU systems, increasing the amount of transfers into the UC and CSU systems and formally emphasizing the improvement of graduation rates.

CSU Chancellor Charles Reed cautioned that schools should not be turned into "degree-cranking organizations."

Schwarzengger, for his part, said he saw "light at the end of the tunnel" for the California systems.

What do you think? Are you feeling optimistic about California's colleges?