The CSU budget crisis continued to be at the center of discussion during the Cal State University Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday. Administrators have been seeking a way to maintain the necessary funding following Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts back in January.
“We’re still $215 million short of what we need. There’s no money for energy, cost growth, or salary increases in the coming year,” said Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander. According to Alexander, the budget is better than it was in January but it is still a struggle to convince the state to give CSU what it needs to provide high-quality and affordable education. The state legislature considers the CSU budget fully funded and is not responsible for providing more funds because that would require new taxes.
Trustees expressed fear of a gradual erosion in the quality of education. Lt. Gov. John Garamendi emphasized the importance of informing the public on how the budget cuts will hurt CSU campuses. According to Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer Richard West, the deficit will create health and safety issues and difficulties in completing current projects.
CSULB will be among the CSUs greatly affected. The availability of financial aid will decrease. As enrollment on campus increases, the number of classes available will decrease. This will result in more students per class and a bigger workload for faculty without higher compensation. With fewer courses offered, it will take some students longer to graduate and could impact their careers.
Already many students have had graduation dates set back due to classes being cut. “I was worried about having an internship – a paid position – and about keeping my house,” says Melanie Mazza, candidate for the Education Specialist Credential, who almost lost an important career opportunity because a course she needed was canceled because of the cuts.
“If the budget problems continue, courses won’t be available and they won’t have the funds for them. Of course I’m worried about the economy in general too.” CSU has increased fees six times in the last seven years. But, while budget cuts threaten faculty and students, CSU executives remain immune.
Last September the Board of Trustees voted on an 11.8 percent increase in executive compensation, despite a state audit concluding that the CSU does not “adequately monitor adherence to its compensation policies or measure their impact on university finances.”
The Board of Trustees cites data provided by the California Postsecondary Education Commission to explain how the increases help CSUs stay competitive and attract executive talent. The CPEC study compares CSU executives’ salaries with those at private universities such as USC, where university tuition and revenues are much higher. From 2002 to 2007 CSU faculty compensation increased 6 percent, overall university payroll increased by 9 percent, and executive compensation increased by 25 percent.
It is not clear if attracting talented executives will result in higher quality education or a more competitive institution when funds for attracting talented faculty are unavailable. Compensation accounts for 75 percent of the university’s budget, said Chancellor Reed in an interview last month. This includes executive compensation.
Without the money from the state, CSU campuses need to raise fees and cut costs in areas such as course offerings and faculty compensation.
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