4:45pm | In an effort to rapidly increase the student population, the deadline for students to apply for Spring enrollment at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) has been extended, the school recently announced. Students have until November 10 to submit their transfer applications. Click here for admissions information.

Earlier this month, the California Legislature approved a much-delayed FY2011 budget with a $200 million increase in funding to the CSU system and its 23 campuses, including CSULB. To receive that funding, the entire system needs to meet increased enrollment targets or they will be forced to forfeit portions of that money.

“In order to respond quickly to this requirement CSU institutions statewide are making a full-on effort to raise spring enrollments to avoid forfeiture of funding,” reads a letter to CSULB faculty from Provost Donald Para and Vice Provost David Dowell, obtained by the lbpost.com. The school will also expand its orientation programs and add more sections to the schedule.

Last year, the university accepted no Spring applications as massive budget cuts forced them to slash enrollment, cut courses and institute furlough days. The school announced over the summer that Spring enrollment would be reinstituted this year.

According to the CSULB.com web site, the minimum GPA necessary for prospective students has been reduced to these levels:

• 2.25 Minimum GPA: Art, Business, Design and Liberal Studies
• 2.25 Minimum GPA plus other course pre-requisites: Communication Studies and Psychology
• 2.5 Minimum GPA: Film and Electronic Arts
• 2.5 Minimum GPA plus other course pre-requisites: Biology
• 2.75 Minimum GPA plus other course pre-requisites: Criminal Justice

The CSU system is still recovering from a 20-percent budget cut in the past two years, and will receive substantial support moving forward. In addition to the $200 million increase from the state, the CSU will also receive $106 million in one-time Federal stimulus funding to meet payroll. This will replace payroll funding that was used to reinstall canceled courses, a press release said this week.

Still, the overall CSU budget remains at the level of the 2005-06 school year.

“For the past several years, due to severe budget cuts our message to students has been that we are drastically cutting enrollment,” said Ephraim P. Smith, executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer for the CSU.

“While our state funding is still well below that of previous years, this new budget will allow us to begin to restore our enrollment levels. We want to let students know that we will have more space available in both spring and fall 2011 terms, and encourage them to apply to our campuses.”