The governor’s May revision, while seeking to restore some critical funding to the California State University system, still falls short of the minimum needed to stop the door from closing on qualified students’ admission to the CSU. At this crucial economic juncture, it is imperative that the CSU continue to get the resources it needs to produce a highly skilled workforce and increase college-going rates of underserved communities in California.
The CSU still faces $215 million in reduced funding and serious fiscal challenges plus $124 million in mandatory cost increases not covered by state funds, including rising health care and energy bills. Without funding to mitigate these costs, students will be facing a closed door when trying to enter the CSU this fall and current students may see an eroding quality of education.
I believe this is the wrong direction for the state to go; cuts to the CSU will only hurt California’s economy by reducing the number of qualified and trained individuals in key job industries.
We need to ensure that there is adequate funding for educating the next generation!