Act Now

Latest Proposed Cuts to CSU Threaten Lasting Damage

The CSU is facing one of the greatest challenges in its history. Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed a series of budget reductions to the system as part of his effort to address the state’s estimated $24.3 billion deficit. The latest budget proposal would reduce CSU’s budget as much as $785 million over a two year period.

What does this mean for CSU?

The CSU system and CSUCI will be forced to make very hard decisions and there will be no good options.

What are the next steps?

CSU Chancellor Reed has indicated his intent to develop an action plan in consultation with the campus presidents and the CSU Board of Trustees by the middle of June with two goals: continue to serve students as best we can and protect as many jobs as possible.

Additionally CSU has asked the legislature to consider:

1. Finalizing any reductions quickly – the longer we wait the harder these cuts will be on students, faculty and staff;
2. Granting flexibility by making the cuts “unallocated,” which would allow the system to save critical programs such as the Early Assessment Program that identifies eleventh-graders in need of additional work for college success; and
3. Approving the CSU capital outlay budget proposed by the Governor for lease-revenue bonds for the CSU projects, which in turn will create nearly 3,500 jobs during the current economic crisis.

What can you do?

Write your legislator today! Urge them to (1) protect the CSU as much as possible for students and the future; (2) maintain flexibility in implementing their final actions; and (3) support job creation by supporting the capital outlay projects through lease revenue bonds.