Reed and California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott and University of California President Mark Yudof discussed the potential effects of proposed budget cuts to the three higher education systems of at least $1.4 billion collectively at an Assembly Budget Subcommittee Hearing in Sacramento.
Reed stated that the reinvestment in higher education will drive the state’s economic revival. “California’s economy depends on the CSU and the rest of higher education, in both the near term and the long term. We are the engine of economic recovery and workforce development in the state.”
The proposed $500 million reduction to the CSU’s 2011-12 budget would bring state support for the CSU to roughly the same level as 1999-00, but the CSU is currently serving almost 70,000 more students.
The chancellor indicated that a tuition increase passed by the CSU Board of Trustees last November will alleviate some of the budget cut, but increases in health care and energy costs will require the CSU to pay an additional $50 million. Even with the tuition fee increases, the CSU will have to reduce its spending by $400 million.
Reed also said the CSU will need to restructure programs. “We can no longer justify offering practically every major at every campus when many of those majors have exceptionally low enrollments,” he said. The CSU will continue to review programs across the system to determine if lower-demand programs can be offered regionally with similar programs at nearby campuses. Reed cautioned that efficiencies will help somewhat, but said the university must do much more in light of the magnitude of the proposed cuts. He cited the restructuring of business practices as a beginning of this endeavor.
Reed also declared that should tax extensions proposed by the governor be passed during a potential special election in June, the CSU will not pursue additional tuition fee increases for 2011-12. If, however, taxpayers do not approve the tax extensions or if the proposal does not reach the ballot, he will revisit this strategy because the university would be at risk of even greater cuts.
Reed also requested that the legislature allow the CSU flexibility and discretion in the budget management process to best position the CSU to take advantage of future reinvestment by the state. More information.
CSU Convenes National Leaders on Teacher Preparation
The CSU will convene state and national education leaders next week for a one-day summit focused on innovative practices in teacher preparation.
“Transformative Change in the Preparation of Teachers” takes place February 14 in Irvine and will feature U.S. Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter as the keynote speaker. The summit will focus on discussing and disseminating successful strategies for teacher preparation that can be replicated in California and nationally, with an emphasis on equipping new teachers to work with English learners and economically disadvantaged and special needs students to close achievement gaps. The event, which is hosted in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences, will also feature Lee Shulman, president emeritus of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and Linda Darling-Hammond from Stanford University.
The CSU is recognized for playing a national leadership role in the transformative redesign of teacher preparation, with 22 CSU campuses currently preparing P-12 teachers through innovative programs and partnerships with local schools. The CSU is the largest preparer of new teachers in the nation graduating 13,000 new teachers in California each year, and has successfully doubled the number of math and science teachers it prepares over the past five years. More information.
Super Sunday Aims to Reach 100,000 Families
In an effort to prepare more African American students for college, CSU’s chancellor, trustees, presidents and other officials will be addressing African American congregations throughout California this month as part of “Super Sunday.”
Now in its sixth year, Super Sunday features inspiring presentations that encourage students and families to start preparing for college as early as sixth grade. The event has expanded to more than 100 churches throughout the state, and is anticipated to reach more than 100,000 families. Participants receive information about financial aid, the planning and application process on CSUMentor.edu, and the CSU’s “How to Get to College” poster that outlines the preparation process.
“Super Sunday is an opportunity to highlight the value of receiving a college degree,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “Nearly eight in 10 future job openings in the U.S. will require postsecondary education. We want to make sure that each year more African American students graduate from college and are able to compete for these jobs.” More information.