I have to agree with the GP comment. This is going to be a drain on both the undergrad programs and on the California taxpayers.
I am not convinced that the value add to the undergrad environment will make up for it.
I am not convinced that the value add to the undergrad environment will make up for it.
In my experience, graduate students aren't really that effective at research until several years in to their education. From a productivity standpoint, it is largely a loss. Many would prefer to hire post-docs instead. They end up being not much more expensive after everything else is taken into account, and they are ready to do good work from the get-go (which, for people who's livelihoods depend on getting tenure and/or grant money, is pretty dang important).
https://www.science.org/content/article/postdoc-union-reache...
Cooks and waiters in restaurants don't work for free either. Programmers don't work for free and negotiate salary raises.