HSU student fees to skyrocket

State university system grapples with $584 million shortfall

Humboldt Sentinel staff
7/17/09

Long Beach

Faced with a projected $584 million shortfall to its budget as a result of the state budget crisis, the California State University Board of Trustees will meet July 21 to finalize plans to manage the budget deficit with skyrocketing fee increases and dramatic cuts to student services.

Trustee are set to vote on a proposed $672 fee increase for full-time undergraduate student residents, and a $990 tuition increase for full-time students from out of state, according to a release from university officials. Fee increases for all part-time and graduate students in the CSU are also expected.

High school and transfer students not already within the CSU system will be hit especially hard: Enrollment is already closed for the upcoming fall semester, and Humboldt State University officials concede that enrollment is closed for spring 2010.

CSU officials also calculate a reduction of 40,000 students system-wide in the 2010-11 academic year -- meaning fewer incoming high school graduates who otherwise qualify for admission will be allowed in.

“These are not easy choices,” CSU chancellor Charles B. Reed stated. “We are asking everyone to make sacrifices so that we can continue to serve as many students as possible and to preserve as many jobs as possible under very difficult circumstances.”

For the first time in living memory, the pain of budget cuts will actually be felt by Reed and other six-figure income university administrators; trustees are set to take action on proposed changes to state regulations to allow the Chancellor to furlough management and executive employees. Twin freezes on salaries for, and “non-essential” hiring of, executive positions are also being imposed.

All university employees, with the exception of campus-based police, are also expecting to feel the bite of involuntary furloughs two days a month. The California Faculty Association, which represents faculty, has yet to agree to an amendment to their contract to allow for furloughs -- the California State Employees Union, which represents support staff, has reached a tentative agreement with Long Beach to allow for furloughs.

While CSU employees will continue to be paid as normal and will not be subject to the IOUs the Controller is currently issuing, students receiving financial aid are; officials from the Chancellor’s office insist that payment deadlines for affected students are being deferred.