We’re all aware of the severe budget deficit the state faces. Current year revenues are below expectations and the overall shortfall for 2008-09 is estimated at $16 billion. History informs us that state services will inevitably be downsized. The massive cuts to education, reflected in the Governor’s proposed budget, will have a significant impact at Cal State Long Beach. The university will immediately lose $16 million, and will receive no additional support to meet its mission of ensuring access to qualified students. Enrollment growth will be halted and many applicants will be denied an opportunity to an affordable education.

I recently received an email from CSULB President F. King Alexander. The message was sent to alumni and copied to university faculty, staff and students; advising us on the severity of the state budget situation, what it means to Cal State Long Beach, and how all stakeholders can help ease the impact budget cuts will have on our 36,000 students and the greater economy. In order to keep the Long Beach community informed, I’m including President Alexander’s message for you in this column:

Dear Cal State Long Beach Alum:

As an alumnus of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), it is important for you to know our concerns regarding the current State Budget proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger. This draconian budget proposal will ultimately hurt California’s future economic growth by failing to fund increased student access to college while also limiting the availability of many courses to existing students.  The unfortunate irony of this budget proposal is that it is occurring at a time when California has never needed more college and university graduates.  In fact, according to a recent report, Californians and Higher Education, 9 out of 10 residents from all political, regional, and demographic groups say that California’s higher education system will be very important to the quality of life and economic vitality of the state over the next 20 years.     

Despite this fact, however, the proposed Governor’s budget will have a $312.9 million detrimental impact on 2008/09 for Cal State Long Beach and the other 22 California State University (CSU) campuses.  Specifically for CSULB, the Governor’s proposed 10 percent cut will mean a loss of $16 million for our campus and students. We need your support to face down these proposed cuts.  With your urging of the State Legislature, we may be able to turn the tide on the proposal in order to provide what the California economy needs most, college educated graduates.  

CSULB and the CSU are vital providers of high quality graduates into the state’s workforce and the budget cuts will have an impact on many key industries in California.

* CSU graduates nearly 90,000 students into the state’s workforce each year.
    * CSU supplies the majority of California’s workforce in key industries including nursing, teaching, agriculture, business, public administration and technology.
          o Nursing – 64%
          o Business – 65%
          o Agriculture – 52%
          o Life sciences – 44%
          o Education – 87%
          o Public Administration – 82%
          o Criminal Justice – 89%

·         For every dollar the state invests in the CSU, $4.41 is generated in economic activity throughout California.

This year the CSU has asked for revenues to increase enrollment by 2.5 percent or 10,000 students for 2008/09.  This is not included in the proposed budget. This simply means that 10,000 qualified students will not have the opportunity to attend a CSU because we will not be able to offer them a slot at any CSU campus.

Another direct impact of the proposed budget cuts will be that CSU’s multiple efforts designed to increase college-going rates of underserved communities in California will suffer drastically. Two-thirds of the current pipeline of students in K-12 are from underrepresented backgrounds, and it is critical to the state’s future that more students from underserved communities attend and complete college.

* The CSU has experienced an increase in enrollment of first-time freshmen from underserved communities over the past few years as a result of our partnerships with K-12 and community-based organizations.

* The largest growth has been among first-time freshman Hispanic (9.5 percent) and Native American students (8.2 percent).  African American student enrollment is up by 6.5 percent.

Please let your California State Assemblymember and State Senator know that you support CSULB and the CSU.  Your support is vital to protecting what has made California an international economic success story.  We hope that you will join us in voicing your concerns by visiting http://www.csulb.edu/ogcr , clicking on “Advocacy @ The Beach” and then by sending your own email message or letter by regular mail to your local legislator.  Let your representative know that the proposed 10 percent cut will undermine California’s economy and thousands of students who excelled in school in good faith would be denied admission if the proposed cut is not rescinded.  

Should you have questions, we welcome your call at 562-985-8816.  Please send a copy of your email to [email protected] or fax to 562-985-8761.  Your support is greatly appreciated by everyone in the CSULB and CSU family.

Go Beach!

F. King Alexander

President