The spending plan signals the governor’s reinvestment in public higher education and reverses a trend of decreased state support the past several years that resulted in the CSU losing more than 30 percent of its budget.
“We appreciate the governor’s recognition that California will benefit from the investment of state funds into higher education,” said CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White. “The proposed budget heads us in the right direction and will allow the CSU to address the unprecedented demand for high quality education at our institutions, as well as areas of critical need. We still face many fiscal challenges and will continue efforts to operate efficiently and effectively, and seek out additional innovative ways to control costs.”
As part of the additional proposed $125.1 million, $10 million has been directed for online strategies to enable more students to complete “bottleneck” courses which slow their degree progress because they can’t find a “seat” in a required course. The courses are either lower-division general education requirements, pre-requisites for majors or high demand classes. The directed funds would be used for technology-enhanced learning, student advising and course redesign to improve access to classes and students’ progress to their degree.
The loss of state support the past several years forced the CSU Board of Trustees to approve sizable tuition fee increases. However, increases in available revenue from the tuition did not keep pace with state funding cuts. Consequently, the CSU instituted a number of cost-savings measures including decreased enrollment, employee layoffs and furloughs, deferred maintenance, travel restrictions, improvements in information technology, and other efficiency measures.
“The CSU has certainly been challenged over the past several years with the drop in state support due to the state’s lingering recession,” said White. “However, with finances more stable in the near term now that Proposition 30 has passed, we are cautiously optimistic that the CSU’s budget will begin to turn around. We look forward to working with the governor and legislature during the upcoming budget hearings.” Read the governor’s budget proposal (PDF).
Cal State Online Launches with First Program
Cal State Online, the CSU’s systemwide online initiative, will launch its first program January 14 with a bachelor’s degree completion program in business administration taught and administered by Cal State Fullerton faculty.
Cal State Online is a coordinated systemwide collection of services that supports the delivery of fully online programs from campuses, and also provides support services for students. The goal is to increase student access with a focus on degree completion and expanded use of technology including a 24/7 online help desk and faculty coaching.
The first group of programs offered through Cal State Online will focus on degree completion by serving students who have earned some college credit and want to complete their degree, but are unable to attend a campus. Students who participate in programs offered through Cal State Online receive a degree from the campus where they were admitted and that is offering the degree program.
Prospective students can apply for admission to the program through the Cal State Online website. Students will also be able to apply to additional online programs slated to launch next fall.
Other fully online programs that are now accepting applications include:
- Bachelor of Science, Applied Studies – Dominguez Hills
- Master of Business Administration – Dominguez Hills
- Master of Public Administration – Dominguez Hills
- Master of Science Instructional Science and Technology – Monterey Bay
- Master of Science Management and Information Technology – Monterey Bay
Additional fully online programs that will begin to accept applications later this year include:
- Bachelor of Arts, Women’s Studies – East Bay
- Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies – Northridge
- Master of Business Administration – Fresno
- Certificate in Homeland Security – Fresno
Additional programs will also be available later this year. Cal State Online programs will initially operate on a self-support basis, and tuition will be set at competitive market levels with some financial aid available for students.
h4.Governor Appoints Faigin to CSU Board of Trustees
Douglas Faigin, president of City News Service, Inc. since 1985, has been appointed to the CSU Board of Trustees. Faigin was owner and general manager at KBCR, Inc. from 1981 to 1985. He served as press secretary for Jerry Brown’s 1974 gubernatorial campaign and deputy campaign manager in Brown’s reelection campaign in 1978. Faigin earned a doctorate degree in political science from Claremont Graduate University and a Master of Science degree in journalism from Northwestern University. More information.