Patrick Makenen, Staff Reporter
Patrick_Makenen@csumb.edu
On Jan. 10 in acknowledgment of a $14 billion deficit facing California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an acrossthe- board 10 percent budget reduction for all state agencies. For the California State University (CSU), this translates to a $312.9 million reduction in the 2008-09 budget, which was approved by the Board of Trustees last November.
For CSU Monterey Bay it is too soon to know exactly how much the budget for next year will be reduced, as the legislative process will continue for the next six to eight months before a final decision will be made. If the 2008-09 state budget and the anticipated reductions follow, CSUMB will no longer be in a position to increase enrollment as it has done in previous years and may need to increase student fees for all attendees. “The reduction in enrollment due to the Mar. 1 freezing of new applications will result in less money for CSUMB next semester,” stated Jack Jewitt, the vice president of University Advancement. “You must realize that one third of the budget money is set aside for student aid which will now be reduced, helping less people with university tuition and student fees.” This funding reduction comes three years after the CSU budget was reduced by over $500 million creating serious implications on providing an educated workforce that drives the California economy. CSU graduates nearly 90,000 students into the state’s workforce each year and supplies the majority of workers in key industries such as nursing, teaching, agriculture, business, public administrations and technology. For every dollar the state invests in the CSU, $4.41 is generated in economic activity. The CSU system has asked for revenue to increase enrollment by 2.5 percent or 10,000 students for 2008/09 which was not included in the newly proposed budget. This means 10,000 qualified students will not have the opportunity to attend a CSU because schools will not be able to offer them a slot at any campus. “Students are among the best advocates for university education. Students can become civically engaged in public policy. I believe advocacy is the best choice for change,” said Jewitt. Students at CSUMB are starting to get involved with this issue. Robert Graham, Associated Student president and junior said, “Members of AS have passed a resolution against it and will be voicing our opinion to stop this.” Emerald Mayo, the AS Representative for State Wide Affairs, is heading a group of students planned to leave on April 21 to Sacramento to protest with students from many other CSU’s in front of the capital against this budget reduction. Students wanting to get involved with this issue are asked to join Mayo or write a letter or email to the governor, state representative and local governments stating their opinion.
