Budget Cuts Means Less Students Admitted, Less Classes Available

I received the following email on some CSU alumni listserv today:

Dear Zahra,

The state budget proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger on January 10 reduces funding to the California State University by a total of $386.1 million. This reduction includes a direct cut $312.9 million and fails to fund $73.2 million necessary to avoid raising student fees by 10 percent for the 2008-09 academic year.

The proposed budget reduction – which comes in addition to $522 million in funding cuts between 2002 and 2005 – means that CSU will be unable to provide access to 10,000 qualified students. All CSU campuses have closed enrollment for first time freshmen as of March 1.

Considered the “economic engine” of California, the CSU returns $4.41 to the California economy for every $1.00 invested by the state. In addition, the CSU plays a major role in the state’s workforce in the areas of nursing, teaching, agriculture, business, public administration, and technology. It graduates 90,000 students each year, including 87 percent of education graduates, 64 percent of nurses, 65 percent of business professionals, 82 percent of those involved in public administration, and more than half of the state’s graduates in agriculture-related fields. As an example of the CSU’s impact, it is estimated that California will need 47,000 additional nurses by 2010 just to keep up with demand.

At the CSU’s current rate of economic return, the proposed budget cuts to CSU would remove more than $1 billion from the state’s economy as California leaders grapple with an ongoing budget deficit. The cuts would mean larger class sizes, less student support, and less course sections, resulting in students taking longer to graduate.

The negative impact on student access would fall disproportionately on students from underrepresented communities, erasing recent gains made in college enrollment by students from these communities. For 2008, freshman applications to CSU for Latinos are up by 21 percent and African Americans by 11 percent over previous years.

Although it is not yet known what the specific budget impact would be on CSU Long Beach, a 10 percent budget reduction would be $16 million to our current budget. This would affect every aspect of the campus from compensation to student rates of graduation. CSU Long Beach will be unable to accommodate 1000 qualified students in the 2008-09 academic year as a result of the proposed budget cuts.

CSU Long Beach provides an important contribution to the California economy, graduating over 8,066 students a year, including 668 teachers, 275 nurses 439 engineers and 375 scientists each year.

Locally, CSU Long Beach generates a total economic impact of $1.024 billion to the regional economy. This impact sustains 17,222 jobs in the region, and generates more than $64.8 million per year in tax revenue.

Sincerely,

F. King Alexander
President

Help Mikey

Breaking News: CSU - CFA Reach Tentative Agreement

California Faculty Association Announces Tentative Agreement in Cal State U. Faculty Contract Dispute

Union Board Puts Rolling Strike on Hold Pending Member Ratification of Contract

The California Faculty Association announced today a tentative agreement with the California State University administration in the 23-month dispute for a contract covering the CSU’s teachers, librarians, counselors and coaches.

CFA President John Travis said, “We have a tentative agreement on the CSU faculty contract that will be good for the CSU, good for our students, good for the faculty—and frankly it will be good for California. As a result, we have put the rolling walkouts at the 23 CSU campuses on hold pending ratification of the agreement.”

The accord was reached using recommendations made by an impartial fact finder as a framework. The fact finder’s report became public March 25. (see it at http://calfac.org)

The salary portion of the tentative agreement will help the faculty to catch up with the cost of living especially in campus cities like LA, San Francisco, and San Jose, which has been a main issue of contention.

Travis said, “The CSU will be better able to retain teachers in California, improving educational quality in the CSU for students today and in the future.

He added, “This happened above all because the CSU faculty were willing to take a stand and were determined, united, and stepped up with a huge strike vote and strong preparations to take action. The faculty took a strong stand for the CSU, and for California’s public higher education system. We will continue to work for the educational integrity of the CSU.”

Through this agreement faculty will make real progress toward closing the pay gap between themselves and colleagues in other states

CFA acknowledges the help of important supporters including members of the state legislature, Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, CSU campus staff, labor unions throughout California and the nation including the AFL-CIO and our affiliates, and many of our students who need and believe in the CSU.

CFA Vice President Lillian Taiz noted there remain important issues challenging California’s state university system.

Taiz said, “Student fees will be raised by the CSU Trustees if more money is not found this spring. Working to stem the rise in student fees will be important for CFA. Also, new policies are needed on compensation for top CSU executives as well as accountability and openness in how the CSU is managed.”

In the coming weeks, the tentative agreement must be turned into a final contract that can be ratified in a vote of the faculty.

Travis said, “The CSU administration did the right thing by agreeing to a contract, based on the fact finder’s report, and avoiding a strike. We hope to work together on rebuilding our university after years of tight budgets, growing class sizes, loss of teachers. The relationship will improve as the administration shows that it values the faculty and places a top priority on the instruction of students.”

Stand up for Higher Education in California!

Dear Chancellor Reed:

As a concerned CSU graduate and former CSSA Executive Officer, I cannot remain quiet during this period of turmoil within the CSU. I am concerned that the CSU's current internal struggles are threatening a great public university and genuinely harming its students, faculty and the state of California.

Middle-class jobs are disappearing and for many high school students an affordable, quality education is the key to their future. The inability of CSU supporters to collectively and cooperatively advocate for state funding resources has resulted in nearly unaffordable student fees, created overcrowded classrooms not conducive to learning or teaching, and produced very difficult working conditions for professors and lecturers.

It is crucial that we work to ensure the CSU is able to maintain its status as an education system that is viewed as one of the finest and most affordable for working families in the country and not one that is only remembered as having been that way once in the distant past.

I support the California Faculty Association and their demand for a decent contract with fair wages and better working conditions. Moreover, I also support their larger battle to return CSU to well-funded institution of yesteryear as faculty teach the students that are the future of California.

Sincerely,
Zahra Billoo

Every voice counts! Send a message NOW! The CSU faculty deserve a fair contract. Have you done your part to support them in getting one?

CFA Authorizes Strike!

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Alice Sunshine, 510.384.1967
Lisa Cohen, 310.395.2544

CALIFORNIA FACULTY ASSOCIATION AUTHORIZES
FIRST-EVER STRIKE

94% of California Faculty Association Members Vote in Support of a Strike if a Contract Settlement Cannot Be Reached with the CSU Administration

Thousands of Faculty Members Will Take Part in the Largest University Strike in U.S. History

Los Angeles – The California Faculty Association (CFA) announced today that its members overwhelmingly voted in favor of a strike if a labor agreement cannot be reached with the CSU Administration. The labor negotiating period under state law ends on Monday, March 26, ten days after an independent mediator issued a report recommending how the dispute should be settled.

If the ten-day “quiet period” concludes with no agreement, which is the final attempt to reach a contract under labor law, the CSU faculty has the legal right to begin job actions. Of the 8,129 faculty members who voted, 94% voted in favor of a strike. The 81% voter turnout on the 23 CSU campuses exceeded the CFA’s expectations.

John Travis, President of the California Faculty Association, said, “Today, the faculty has spoken loud and clear – they are tired of the way in which they are being treated by the CSU Administration. And they want a return to a true focus on the mission of the university — the instruction of students.

“They are frustrated by millions of dollars wasted on pet projects and golden parachute deals for executives while our classrooms and student services are being cut. And finally, they are sick of being lied to and treated disrespectfully by an Administration that makes ‘take it or leave it’ offers and refuses to bargain fairly.

“We need to make real progress toward paying the CSU faculty at the same level as our peers around the country. We know this administration has the financial flexibility to make it happen, but they choose not to. If they don’t find the will to reorder their priorities, we don’t want to strike but we will.”

The vote authorizes CFA’s Board of Directors to set the dates and locations of the strike. CFA’s leaders have already indicated that the job actions will begin with “rolling strikes” in which campuses will strike at different times for two days each. The actions are likely to occur in April.

Proposed Fee Increase = Education Tax

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 10, 2007
Media Contact: Jeremy Mills
Mobile Phone: (760) 880-4397

PRESS RELEASE


Schwarzennegger Turns His Back on Students and Families
Proposed Fee Increase is a Education Tax on the Middle Class

"I'm deeply disappointed that the governor has turned his back on students and their families," said Nadir Vissanjy, Chair of the California State Student Association (CSSA) and a senior at Sonoma State University, in response to the Governor's Budget Proposal for 2007-2008. State support for higher education has slipped from 17% of the state general fund in 1976 to 10.4% in the proposed 2007.

While state funding has decreased overtime, fees are set to rise next year. "The governor says he opposes tax increases, but this proposed fee increase is nothing more then a $97.8 million regressive education tax on middle class students and families," concluded Vissanjy, "By taxing the California Dream, the governor is putting educational opportunity further out of reach."

Last year, Governor Schwarzenegger stopped fee increases at both the California State University and the University of California. State University Fees will have increased by over 90% in the last five years, far out pacing increases in per capita personal income growth in California. At that time, the governor recognized that student fees squeezed middle class families that didn't qualify for aid, but could not afford to pay for college outright. This year the governor turned his back on students and families by raising fees to free up general fund money for other priorities.

"Students like me are paying a greater share of college costs and going into greater debt to do it," said Jeremy Mills, Chair of the CSSA Legislative Affairs Committee and a senior at CSU San Marcos. CSU students often balance work and family obligations. In fact, 30% of CSU students work 30 hours a week or more, and 25% have dependents that rely on them. As fees go up, so does borrowing, especially amongst the middle class students.

The state legislature could vote this spring to 'buy out' the student fee increase. "This is only the beginning," continues Mills, "In the coming months CSSA will be working with student leaders on each CSU campus to educate them about the proposed budget, and empower them to hold elected officials accountable for keeping the promise of the Master Plan for Education."