With international students facing higher enrollment fees starting in the summer sessions at least 530 signatures have been gathered to petition the hikes.

International students pay $210 up from $186 per unit but in the fall semester they will have to pay $230 per unit up from the current $206 per unit.

That is far more than what non-international students are paying at $20 per unit.

The issue of the tuition fee increase was brought to the attention of Faculty Senate President Dr. Byran Reece during the Faculty Senate meeting on April 17.

ASCC Senator Joon Kyu Kang brought forth a petition to members of the ASCC Senate during the April 25 meeting.

The petition partially read:

? Students are collecting signatures to show concern and solidarity in petitioning for a decrease in fees to be competitive with neighboring community colleges.? Cerritos College provides an excellent educational program and leadership opportunities; however, it may lose classmates to other colleges that cost less. ? The increase may decrease the opportunity for cultural diversity on campus for domestic students. ? The college may lose much needed revenue that support program on campus.

Although the process has began to collect the signatures Kang says that there is more work to be done during the summer.

“I would hope to present the petition to the board in the fall,” he explained, “but if the board feels that 3,000 signatures is not enough I will gather 5,000 or 8,000 if needed.”

He added that the way he’s been able to gather the 530 signatures is by going into classes and making the announcement and asking for students to show support of lowering the fees for international students.

As of press time, Vice President of Student Services Stephen Johnson could not be reached for comment.

Students said that in hearing about the fee hikes that international students face, that it was unfair.

“I would want to know why it’s happening,” Gretheel Olveva, business major, said.

She commented that those who come from other countries are seeking the same opportunity and now to have to pay additional money for education others should be concerned.

Suzanne Grijalva, engineering major agreed.

“Students live in the same place we do,” she said, “so what’s the difference.”

Both says that if given the opportunity they would sign the petition. However, Olveva says that there is something more to the petition.

“Hopefully it will be educated about this because it’s important.”

For Kang, that is the bottom line and is why he will be working toward letting students know about the petition and its importance and not only for the fact that he is an international student.

“There will hopefully be attention to this issue,” he said, “but I know that it will take time to do so.”