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UCLA Secrets

While UCLA Tuition Rises, Expensive and Extravagant Travel Budgets Among Deans

UCLA’s tuition rises just like any other university’s every year. The public suspects that increments in fees are because of well-grounded increases that contribute to a better education for students because the factors on a micro level that balloon fees and spending are rarely revealed to the public. But at UCLA, exorbitant tuition might be for a different reason — and a recent report proves that spending in travel categories among deans at UCLA is out of control and borders on corrupt.

According to many news sources, it has been reported that increasing budgets are because UCLA officials have been spending too much money on first-class travel flights and luxury hotels. From 2008 to 2012, the university has spent about $2 million on travel and entertainment, which was used by Chancellor Gene Block and 17 deans. According to the Center for Investigative Reporting, records obtained show that the University paid out $486,000 for 130 first-class and business-class flights for just six of the deans. How could it be possible for the deans to misuse UCLA tuition on such extravagant expenses? About thirteen years ago, the University of California changed their luxury travel ban to allow for a few exceptions including one key loophole: if the administrator has special medical needs. Therefore, any official at the university could travel in luxury provided a medical report for the need to do so. Sure enough, when this ban was lifted, many medical needs popped up among the deans…

Several UCLA officials used expensive chauffeur services due to "medical needs" when travelling.
Several UCLA officials used expensive chauffeur services due to “medical needs” when travelling. Credit: torbakhopper

After the six deans submitted doctor’s notes proving their medical ailments, they were approved to use business-class and first-class flights, luxurious hotels and other expensive services. Just in recent past, due to the doctor’s note stating that these people need to fly in a class other than economy, the university had paid an extra $234,000 for the six deans who used this clause — all these costs were charged in the name of a “medical reason.” Not only that, officials have taken individual flights amounting to more than $10,000, the report says. Some deans hired expensive chauffeur services or spent nights in Four Seasons hotels. For example, records show that from 2008 to 2012 Dean Olian spent $647,00 on fights, lodging, food, ground transportation and other goods and services. Another example of an exorbitant expenditure dates from 2009 to May 2012: Schwartz spent $45,000 to book or reimburse business and first-class fights. These are just few examples of how much money was spent by UCLA just to meet “personal” needs of officials of the University. Effectively, each students’ UCLA tuition is contributing to budgets for these excessive costs.

The UC travel policy states that hotel stays should not be charged to the university unless an employee is going to an event at least 40 miles away from the university. However, some deans preferred to stay at hotels despite the vicinity of their homes stating that they had to stay for other events in the night making it a necessity to remain at the hotel. They insisted that these costs be paid for by UCLA and accounting officials caved in. This as a result, added more expenses to the university.

While UCLA officials are enjoying comfortable travel and 5-star hotels, the entire UC system is hitting all-time budget highs and unprecedented skyrocketing tuition — an almost 70% increase in less than 5 years. To be fair, the deans justify these costs by recruiting donors on the order of 6- and 7-figures. However, UCLA students would not be happy to know that their entire $10K tuition is being squandered on a single flight for one of the deans.

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Paying Tuition UCLA Secrets

UCLA Tuition Deadline — Tuition Payment Due Date

UCLA publishes a number of different calendars and many leave out a critical due date for students: the tuition deadline.

Tuition Deadline

Let’s get right to the point. If you’re going to UCLA in the fall, as of this writing, your tuition and fees are due on September 20th, 2013. The overall rule of thumb is that UCLA tuition and fees will be due by the 20th day of September, December and March for the Fall, Winter and Spring terms, respectively. Some folks won’t read that at all, so here’s a handy table to map it out:

Tuition Payment Due Dates

Term Due Date
Fall September 20
Winter December 20
Spring March 20

You have until 4:00pm to pay in-person and 5:00pm to pay online (see below). One major caveat: if the due date falls on a weekend or a holiday, it’s up to you to meet the deadline by submitting your payment by the last business day prior to the 20th.

How to Pay Your Fees On Time

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One way of paying tuition is through UCLA’s URSA system.

You can pay your tuition by in person by dropping it directly in the drop box at 1125 Murphy Hall in the Payment Solutions & Compliance office (this is the only way to get same-day processing). You can also pay your tuition by e-check or credit card through your URSA account or mail it in to this address:

UCLA Payment Solutions & Compliance Office

Box 957089, 1125 Murphy Hall

405 Hilgard Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90095-7089

If you need to pay in cash you can also do that at the Murphy Hall at the Payment Solutions & Compliance window Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 4:00pm.

(Financial Aid will automatically credit your account.)

Paying Tuition in Installments

If You Can’t Make the Due Date

If you don’t have a lump of cash or a ton of Financial Aid, it’s going to be really hard to pay all that tuition at once. So, UCLA provides “BruinPay Plan” which allows you to make payments in installments. You’ll make one payment per month on the 20th day of each month — they’ll automatically deduct these from your bank account.

It’s critical that you enroll in this program before each term — this program does no automatically renew for each term. And the deadlines are the same as the tuition payment due dates above, as long as you’re a quarter student.

If You Miss The Tuition Deadlines

If you miss any of the UCLA tuition deadlines, UCLA will add late fees to your account and they’ll drop your classes. They’ll also put a hold on your student account which could impact registering for classes, financial aid and access to your transcripts. If this happens, don’t freak out. It’s usually reversible if you get in touch with the university and settle the matter.