The Nexus

On Nov. 20, CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, after discussing the issue with the university’s Board of Trustees, declared that California State University (CSU) would curb enrollment for the 2009-10 year as a result of the California budget deficit. This decision will reduce the amount of all undergraduate applicants admitted by 10,000 students.

“[We are] already providing education to 10,000 [already enrolled] students for which [we] receive no funding from the state,” CSU Public Affairs Communications Specialist Teresa Ruiz said. “With no increase in state funding during the past two years and a growing state deficit, we [have been] forced to manage student enrollment down to the level for which it actually receives funding.”

Meanwhile, University of California (UC) Regents met on the same day to approve a budget that requests the state for an additional $122 million to cover the costs of enrollment growth.

The budget states that if further funding is not received or is not sufficient, the UC system will follow in CSU’s footsteps and curtail enrollment for next fall and most likely increase enrollment fees as well.

“State spending per student has fallen nearly 40 percent since 1990,” UC Director of Admissions and Ethnic Media Communications Ricardo Vazquez said. “While we are reluctant to constrain freshmen access to the university, we also need to ensure that we continue to provide the high quality education that students expect.”

Vazquez predicts that enrollment cuts will serve to intensify the competition among high school seniors and graduates for admission.

“If enrollment is curtailed, there will certainly be a greater competition simply for spots [at our universities],” Vazquez said. As a result, more students, though they are eligible, may end up being placed in the referral pool and not gain access to their desired school.”

On the positive side, Ruiz sees the enrollment cuts as a chance to encourage high school seniors to apply as soon as possible and as broadly as possible. She said that in addition, enrollment cuts may also help high school seniors consider schools they may have not considered applying to before.

“Because of enrollment limitations, more priority will be given to community college transfer students and local incoming freshman,” Ruiz said. “High school seniors should consider not only applying to CSU campuses of their choice, but also to their more local CSU as well. They should plan their application process thoroughly and act quickly to meet campus deadlines, to better ensure a chance at admission.”

Vazquez said he trusts Regents to make the right decisions at their February meeting, before which Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will release the preliminary 2009-10 fiscal budget.

What Schwarzenegger lays out next year will determine the Regent’s actions.

“There are a number of competing priorities and we will have very tough choices to make,” Vazquez said. “We realize the [economic] situation is serious, but the university thinks our proposed budget reflects the appropriate funds for the state to provide in order for the university to properly operate at the highest level of quality possible.”