President Rollin Richmond noted, “The Humboldt State University Budget Book provides a unique look at the operating and capital budget for the campus and each of its major units.” The report provides the most comprehensive look to date at the budgetary process at Humboldt State. HSU’s $156 million operating budget stems from four main areas:
• State funds- comprised of state appropriations, student fees and non-resident tuition—represent the largest amount at 65 percent of the total budget.
• Self-support enterprises constitute 7 percent of the budget. These areas include Extended Education, Housing and Parking,.
Auxiliary organizations – include the separate not-for-profit corporations with their own governing boards that provide essential services in support of HSU’s mission. They are the HSU Advancement Foundation, the Associated Students of HSU, HSU Sponsored Programs Foundation, and the Humboldt State University Center and they constitute 22 percent of the budget.
• Other miscellaneous funds, such as the California Lottery and the Children’s Center, account for the remaining 6 percent.
One of the major sources of new revenue for the campus is through enrollment growth. The report notes that full-time equivalent students have been steadily growing since 2004-05. In the Fall of 2007 and again in the Fall of 2008, Humboldt State enrolled back-to-back record setting Freshman or new student classes.
The report highlights that HSU has budgeted to award about $1.8 million in student fee waivers and another $8.3 million in campus-funded financial aid through the State University Grant. Overall, HSU financial aid to students from all sources, including federal aid, private contributions, fund raising and earnings from endowments, is estimated at almost $52 million annually. The report also outlines the $156 million operational budgets for all of HSU’s divisions. The divisions include Academic Affairs, Administrative Affairs, the President’s Unit, Student Affairs, University Advancement, and General University Obligations which holds campuswide activities, such as utility costs. The divisions are moving forward with several new initiatives, such as a campuswide email system upgrade, outreach to increase international student applications, a program to help retain more of our current students through to graduation, and other initiatives.
The report outlines the California State University’s capital outlay appropriation that it receives each year from the State of California. The source of these funds is General Obligation Bonds, sold by the state for capital development. All major, minor and capital renewal state funded construction projects receive funding from allocation orders issued by the CSU, and funds from the operating budget cannot supplement a capital budget. State funded capital improvements this year included phase II of improvements to the Health and Physical Education Complex. A non-state funded project is the construction of the new 434-bed College Creek Apartments, scheduled for completion in fall 2010.