Thought I'd lend my 2 cents here. I'm a current Berkeley EECS undergrad.
These 8hr a week TA positions are very difficult to get and coveted by many students for (1) relationship to a professor which helps in such a large department and (2) the considerable amount of weekly pay.
Did the EECS department potentially ruin their short term future by not paying full tuition? Maybe.
They also do lean heavily on academic interns (unpaid students who work 1 or 2 hours a week), and I see this group increasing greatly in numbers after this decision is ruled.
Please ask me questions! I'm a past TA myself have a lot of friends who TA.
These 8hr a week TA positions are very difficult to get and coveted by many students for (1) relationship to a professor which helps in such a large department and (2) the considerable amount of weekly pay.
Did the EECS department potentially ruin their short term future by not paying full tuition? Maybe.
They also do lean heavily on academic interns (unpaid students who work 1 or 2 hours a week), and I see this group increasing greatly in numbers after this decision is ruled.
Please ask me questions! I'm a past TA myself have a lot of friends who TA.