High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 2009 California university college tuition hike protests were a series of protests held on college campuses in the University of California system and elsewhere in California in September through December 2009. Protests were mostly made up of students, although faculty, school employees and others joined in the protests as well. They were protesting against a 32% rise in tuition costs which was approved by the University of California Board of Regents. Protesters were also demonstrating against pay cuts and other cutbacks for the university system.