MOMENTUM BUILDS ON CAMPUSES TO FIGHT PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS
March 18, 2008
The movement to oppose the governor’s proposed $386 million budget cut to the California State University system continues to gain momentum going into six All- Campus Budget Fight Back Meetings scheduled for this week.
Last week saw a huge turnout of students, faculty, staff and administrators to meetings held on the San Marcos, East Bay, Monterey Bay, Northridge, San Bernardino and Fresno campuses. At San Bernardino, San Francisco and Sacramento, more than 1,200 people participated in each meeting as halls were jammed and crowds were forced to utilize overflow rooms and simulcasts to view the meetings.
A monitoring report of broadcast news coverage reveals that television coverage alone – which did not include radio, internet or newspaper coverage – of last week’s meetings reached more than a million homes throughout the state.
To view a portion of the news coverage garnered by these all-campus budget meetings, click here.
To view samples of the TV coverage created by these meetings, click here.
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE: CUTS HURT STATE’S WORKFORCE AND INFASTRUCTURE
Since the release of the Governor’s proposed budget in January, CFA and others in the higher education community have asserted that cuts to the CSU will undermine future growth in the state by failing to meet California’s human infrastructure needs.
Recently, many in the business community have begun to back up this assertion. The negative impact of budget cuts on education were highlighted in a column published Sunday by San Diego Union Tribune columnist Dean Calbreath about the Workforce Summit 2008, a meeting of San Diego Business leaders.
Calbreath wrote: “The focus of the meeting, which was sponsored by CommNexus San Diego – formerly the San Diego Telecom Council – was on university-level education. But the message was the same: The education system is not producing workers with the kind of skills needed of the modern workplace. “Finding and retaining new high-tech talent in San Diego has never been a bigger crisis,” read a CommNexus flier advertising the meeting. “San Diego is facing serious concerns with the current state of our technical-talent work force.”
Calbreath continued, “(Gov. Schwarzenegger) pledged that he would ‘consider’ boosting funding ‘when our budget picture is brighter.’ “But considering the impact that education has on the California work force, it might be better to do more than just ‘consider’ the panel's recommendation. No matter how dark our budget picture is, taking an ax to education could make it a bit darker. “
To view the full article, click here.
CFA TESTIFIES BEFORE BUDGET COMMITTEE
Even as thousands of faculty members congregated at budget meetings across the state, CFA’s governmental relations team was working hard in Sacramento to convey the gravity of these budget cuts to members of the state legislature.
John Travis, Chair of CFA’s Political Action and Legislation Committee, testified before the Senate Budget Committee about the importance of funding higher education. Travis stated: “CFA believes this is a pivotal turning point for California and the CSU. For the first time in our history, state budget cuts could force the CSU this fall to deny access to at least 10,000 eligible students.
“The governor’s proposed budget cuts will only further exacerbate the depletion of an operating budget that has never fully recovered from the more than half billion dollars in general fund cuts the state inflicted on the CSU five years ago.
“In fact, when one accounts for inflation – which is the honest way to compare our budgets – the CSU’s general fund budget today is below state funding levels the CSU was given in 2002. “At this point in our history, will the state provide educational opportunities for students and their families who have spent the previous 12 years achieving their academic goals, or will we deny these students access to a public university education?”
JOIN THE ALLIANCE FOR THE CSU
March 11, 2008
To protect the future of the California State University, a coalition of higher education supporters has banded together to create the “Alliance for the CSU.”
The Alliance seeks to educate lawmakers and the community about the fact that the CSU is the solution to California’s economic challenges, not the problem. The Alliance for the CSU includes those who care about the future of the state and its state university system, among them students, alumni, faculty, CSU staff, administrators, parents of CSU students, employers, church leaders, labor union members, and people who depend on and enjoy the many assets the California State University adds to our communities and cities.
To learn more about the Alliance and find out how you can get involved, click here.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO DISCUSS BUDGET FIGHT
The CSU Board of Trustees will convene in Long Beach this week. The work
underway to preserve CSU funding in the next state budget is expected to be the
main point of conversation.
CFA president Lillian Taiz will address the board on Wednesday about the
ongoing All-Campus Budget Fight Back Meetings and will ask all those in
attendance to join the newly formed “Alliance for the CSU.”
DOMINGUEZ HILLS KICKS OFF ALL-CAMPUS
BUDGET MEETINGS WITH A BANG
An enthusiastic crowd of more than 350 faculty members, students, staff and administrators packed the ballroom of the CSU Dominguez Hills student union Monday to inaugurate a series of “Budget Cut Fight-Back meetings to take place on all 23 CSU campuses.
Monday’s event was emceed by Dominguez Hills CFA Chapter President David Bradfield, who laid out the meaning of these threatened cuts to the campus community while those in attendance gave a ‘power clap.’ Bradfield, who also serves as CFA Associate Vice President, was joined on the podium by Campus President Mildred García who spoke about the fiscal vulnerability of the campus and urged those in attendance to do everything in their power to make sure lawmakers support the CSU in the state budget process. Referring to a past funding shortfall at the campus of $2.8 million plus the governor’s proposed cuts for this year, she said the cuts mean “$6 million out of our campus budget – this we cannot stand for.”
García said the shortfall already is causing the campus to stop tenure track faculty searches and freeze staff hiring. “We’ve got to turn this around,” she said. Bradfield says the fight for CSU funding has brought unity to his campus.
“It was great to see the campus come together in defense of the CSU budget,” said Bradfield. “Dr. Garcia has been great. The event would also not have been possible without the support of the Academic Senate, all the staff unions, and a group of wonderful and engaged students who turned out for the event including ASI President Ifeanyi Ebigbo and members of CSU Students for Quality Education.”
The event was well attended by the media and coverage of the event – including newspaper articles and videos of broadcast reports – can be viewed by clicking here.
THE FIGHT FOR THE CSU BUDGET IS A FIGHT
FOR THE STATE’S FUTURE
February 20, 2008
With the political battle over the 2008/09 state budget raging in Sacramento, advocates of the CSU – including CFA, the CSU administration, student groups and all campus staff unions – are organizing to remind lawmakers of the importance of the CSU to the vitality of the state.
“Higher education is part of the solution to this troubled economy,” said CFA President Lillian Taiz, a Professor of History at CSU Los Angeles. “By making more cuts to the CSU, lawmakers would be further undermining the economy and the revenue-making ability of the state.”
CFA, the CSU administration and other campus constituencies are preparing “allcampus” meetings throughout the CSU system to raise awareness about the budget and kick off advocacy for proper funding for the system. Please watch for the All-Campus Meeting coming up on your campus and plan to attend. CFA continues to stress that not a single dollar has yet been cut from the system.
“This situation is definitely bad for the CSU but I want to stress that these are only proposed cuts,” said Taiz. “The governor’s proposed cuts are not inevitable. Together with the entire CSU community, we intend to fight off these cuts and win the needed funding for the CSU.”
“We in the CSU have an obligation to fight for CSU funding. We must do our part to win a budget that allows the CSU to educate California’s working families. The CSU ensures hope and prosperity for our state,” said Taiz.
STUDIES ADD URGENCY TO PLEA FOR CSU FUNDING
Two studies released today highlight the urgent need to fund public higher education, particularly the California State University. The first, out of the Silicon Valley, identified a rapid loss of traditional middle class jobs and the need for better education to preserve innovation. Emmett Carson, president of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which cosponsored the 2008 Silicon Valley Index report, called for improvement in job training so potential employees are better prepared for jobs in today’s everchanging economy.
Doug Henton, president of Mountain View-based Collaborative Economics, which conducted the index research, added that the valley needs to develop "ladders of opportunity" to help people move from low-wage to mid-wage jobs. He said, "We need to be thinking about social innovation, about how to build career ladders."
Meanwhile a report by the Brookings Institution and sponsored by the Pew Charitable Trusts warned, according to the New York Times, “that widening gaps in higher education between rich and poor, whites and minorities, could soon lead to a downturn in opportunities for the poorest families. "The researchers found that Hispanic and black Americans were falling behind whites and Asians in earning college degrees, making it harder for them to enter the middle class or higher.”
The California State University, which is slated for deep cuts in the governor’s proposed budget for next year, is a key part of the solution to California’s economic downturn and to ensuring access to a strong middle class in our state.
See the 2008 Silicon Valley Index report
See the Brookings Institute study
See news coverage of these reports
CSU AVOIDS MID-YEAR CUTS
The CSU cleared a major funding hurdle over the weekend as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a package of emergency mid-year spending cuts totaling more than a billion dollars without making any reductions to the CSU budget.
“Obviously this is only the first step, but we view it as a positive sign that lawmakers understood the importance of funding the CSU,” said John Travis, Chair of CFA’s Political and Legislation Committee.
Travis continued, “However, the fact that other segments of education in our state were not spared should serve as a strong indication that we have work to do to ensure the governor realizes the importance of funding education going forward.”
While spared this month, the CSU suffered deep cuts in 2003 and 2004 totaling more than $500 million. The system never recovered that lost funding and, in inflation adjusted dollars, the CSU budget is below the 2002 funding level.
SEND IN CAMPUS RUMORS ABOUT THE BUDGET
The Governor's proposed cut to state funding for the CSU’s 2008/09 budget has generated a flurry of rumors on the campuses.
On some campuses, the rumors are mere speculation about what the proposed cuts might mean. On others, administrators are making pronouncements about specific cuts they plan to make. In some extreme cases, administrators have ordered cuts to instruction even though decisions about the budget have not been made.
CFA regards these reactions to be a panic response. CFA leaders say it is too soon to give up on our state university. Rather, the CSU needs leadership that will guide a push to win the needed funding.
“Giving up on this year’s budget process prematurely is a shortsighted and illadvised approach to battling possible cuts,” said CFA Vice President Kim Gerón, a professor of political science at CSU East Bay.
CFA has set up a tip line to track budget rumors and pronouncements being made on the campuses.
Send your tips to budgetrumor@calfac.org
Please do not send questions about the budget to this address, only tips. If you have budget questions, please contact your campus CFA Office.
CFA BOARD DISCUSSES BUDGET
February 12, 2008
The CSU budget was the chief topic of conversation at CFA Board of Directors’ meeting in Los Angeles last weekend.
In response to reports that some local campus administrators are threatening to act prematurely on possible budget reductions, CFA President Lillian Taiz told the CFA Board, “There is nothing to gain from acquiescence. It is premature at this point to be threatening layoffs and canceling sections.”
San Marcos faculty member George Diehr, who also serves on the CalPERS Board of Administration, backed up Taiz’s statement saying, "The situation is definitely bad, but it's not time for panic. It’s time for action.”
Diehr went on to explain that all the cuts are only proposals. “Nothing has actually been cut. Let's start thinking about solutions instead of rushing to make cuts. If we give in and just start cutting that's not leadership."
David Bradfield, CFA’s Associate Vice President South, emphasized that the union can overcome the budget obstacle by acting now. “If we become obsessed with their plans for anticipated disaster, then it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy,” said Bradfield. “We need to realize that we can change this by taking the necessary steps now.”
BUDGET CUTS TO THE CSU ARE ANYTHING BUT INEVITABLE
To further allay anxiety on campus, CFA President Lillian Taiz pointed out that the union has overcome long odds before.
“If we have learned anything from recent history, it is that nothing is inevitable,” said Taiz. “When the governor announced his 2005 propositions people told us there was no way that these measures could be stopped. However, when election night came the propositions went down in flames.
“When we set out to provide our members with one of the best contracts in the country, our critics said it was impossible. Through hard work we were able to achieve a monumental contract victory.
“Just last summer ranking members of the legislature told us that cuts to the CSU budget were a done deal. But less than 24 hours later our members had convinced lawmakers to fully fund the CSU compact.
“So, when certain members of the campus community look at the looming budget crisis and say that drastic cuts to the CSU are all but assured, I say to them nothing is inevitable when we are united. We can succeed in protecting vital CSU funding.”
STATE SEN. DUCHENY VISITS SAN MARCOS
At the invitation of CFA, Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny – Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee – traveled to CSU San Marcos last week to meet with faculty members and administrators about the state budget.
Ducheny emphasized that citizens must help decide the state’s spending priorities and urged those in attendance to “get creative” when looking for solutions to the budget crunch.
Ducheny’s visit followed the publication of an opinion piece in the San Diego Union Tribune on February 3, 2008, in which she wrote, "He (Gov. Schwarzenegger) asks financially strapped students who have seen student fees double over the past five years to pay more for college, but asks no additional sacrifice from our wealthiest citizens or corporations.
"Proposing across-the-board cuts avoids the hard decisions involved in setting priorities and the careful analysis of the effects of those cuts on California's families, communities and economy. Are we prepared to accept larger class sizes for our students? Are we willing to turn away eligible students from our institutions of higher education?"
To view the full editorial, clikc here
MESSAGE TO CSU COMMUNITY ON THE STATE BUDGET BUDGET
February 5, 2008
CFA President Lillian Taiz issued a joint statement last week together with CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, the CSU Board of Trustees, CSU union leaders, and others outlining the need for the CSU community to unite to oppose the budget cuts facing the system. The letter states in part: “In the face of these proposed budget reductions, the CSU community – faculty, students, staff, alumni, administrators and the Board of Trustees – have agreed to work together to advocate that the legislature and the Governor consider alternative solutions.
“We are all alarmed by the $386.1 million reduction to the CSU budget consisting of the Governor's unallocated cut of $312.9 million and the $73.2 million necessary to avoid a 10 percent student fee increase in the 2008/09 academic year. “This funding reduction comes only three years after our budget was reduced by over $500 million during the 2002/03 and 2004/05 fiscal years, which led to significantly reduced student access, as well as a dramatic increase in student fees. History will likely be repeated if the Governor's proposed CSU budget reductions are sustained by the legislature.”
The letter can be viewed by clicking here
CSU APPLICATIONS REACH ALL-TIME HIGH
Just as the California State University system is being forced to close the door on as many as 10,000 qualified students, applications to the CSU have reached an all-time high. The system has received more than 500,000 undergraduate applications for the fall 2008 admission period as of Jan. 29. That is an increase of more than 47,967 applications above last year’s then-record total.
“These massive applications numbers show that it is more important now than ever for the state to fund the CSU,” said CFA Vice President Kim Gerón, a political science professor at CSU East Bay and Chair of CFA’s student internship program.
Gerón continued: “The CSU system is a driving force in California’s economy as we graduate 90,000 students into the state's work force every year. By turning students away, the state is making a choice to prolong its fiscal struggles.”
BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DISCUSS BUDGET
The CSU budget will be a major topic of discussion at the CFA Board of Directors’ meeting in Los Angeles this weekend. The members of the board, along with campus representatives of CFA’s Political Action and Legislation Committee and CFA campus chapter presidents, will discuss how the union can build greater support for the CSU in the legislature and in the state as a whole. “This year requires us to really focus on our political work, from elections to lobbying, given the dire consequences to the system if this budget is passed,” said John Travis, Chair of CFA’s Political Action and Legislation Committee.Read CFA's Budget Brief
Read CFA's analysis of the Governor's proposed 2008/09 budget and its possible implications for the CSU.
January 30, 2008
Click here to view the budget brief (pdf)
Trustees Tackle Budget Crisis
January 23, 2008
The main topic of discussion at this week’s CSU Board of Trustees meeting was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for 2008/09, which includes more than $386 million in cuts to the CSU system.
CFA President Lillian Taiz spoke to the Trustees about the importance of this budget fight to the future of the CSU, and stated that CFA has already begun to gear up.
“CFA is already preparing for the fight ahead,” Taiz said. “This weekend over 100 faculty activists were briefed on the work that is before us.”
“Our statewide organization has begun to reach out to labor and community allies,” Taiz continued. “Our members are ready to step up to the plate to fight for the CSU budget. In such challenging times extraordinary steps have to be taken.”
CSU Board of Trustees Chair Roberta Achtenberg thanked Taiz and CFA for extending an olive branch at the November Board of Trustees meeting to the administration to work collaboratively on the budget, stating that the move “was bold and welcome.”
Achtenberg stressed the importance of this budget fight “to reverse course from the disinvestment in higher education and in the CSU.” “I believe that when we bring our unified message to the various communities – legislature, editorial boards and businesses – that we will have many allies in our struggle. It is absolutely key that we speak with one voice to anyone who is willing to listen to us,” said Achtenberg.
Lt. Governor John Garamendi told the Trustees that, “the current budget is completely unacceptable to the future of education in California.” The overall tone of the meeting was amiable, with nearly all parties in attendance agreeing that the budget crisis facing the system will require mutual assistance.
CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed struck a conciliatory tone when discussing the need for cooperation when advocating for the budget. He stated that the CSU administration is committed to working with the faculty, students, staff, alumni and other CSU supporters to fight for the necessary funding.
“I want everyone to know that we need to take the (proposed budget) numbers to the politicians, businesses and editorial boards and let them know what kind of California we want,” said Reed. “We are on our way to building world class prisons and second class universities.”
A number of students were also at the meeting, and California State Student Association President Dina Cervantes invited all those in attendance to participate in her organization’s march on the Capitol against the budget crisis April 21.
The State Budget and the CSU
January 15, 2008
A major topic of discussion at next week’s CSU Board of Trustees meeting is expected to be Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget plan for 2008/09, which if passed could result in devastating cuts to the CSU system
Facing a massive deficit, the governor has proposed deep cuts to education funding for the coming year. Total cuts from California’s three higher education segments – Community Colleges, CSU and UC – could top $1 billion.
The governor’s initial proposal suggests $312 million in cuts to the CSU system, which equates to an $875 drop in per-pupil spending. At the same time the governor’s proposal recommends yet another 10% student fee increase.
“This proposal just doesn’t add up,” said CFA President Lillian Taiz. “Under this budget, students will again be asked to pay more for their education while receiving less from the state. Professor Schwarzenegger needs to enroll himself in a remedial math class and come back with a better budget plan.”
To put the possible budget cuts in further perspective, the $312 million the governor seeks to take away from the CSU is more than the combined 2007/08 operating budgets of the Los Angeles and Dominguez Hills CSU campuses.
CFA leaders say, however, that it is too soon to give up on higher education. According to CFA President Taiz, “While the threat to the CSU is very real, we must remember that the governor's January budget is just the opening salvo. Final decisions have not been made. We know that higher education is part of the solution to a struggling economy. Every one of us is going to have to get the message out to policy-makers and the public.”
At a CSU budget advisory meeting this morning prior to the governor’s announcement, many groups in the CSU community agreed to issue a joint statement on the budget cuts. The groups include CFA, the CSU administration, the California State Student Association, the CSU Employees Union, Academic Professional of California and others.
During the previous budget crisis, the CSU was cut by a half billion dollars. Unfortunately, the state universities never recovered from that lost funding. According to the California Post-Secondary Education Commission, the CSU received $383 million less in state general funds in 2006/07 than it did in 2002/03 and $447 million less than in 2000/01 – when adjusted for inflation.
Faculty Oppose Governor’s Plan to Cut Cal. State University Funding by $321 Million
January 10, 2008
Gov. Schwarzenegger presented to the public his plan for the 2008/09 state budget today, and it includes a deep $312.9 million cut in the CSU.
The plan on paper is a sleight of hand, adding up the money promised in the funding Compact, assuming 8500 more full-time-equivalent students, subtracting 10% and layering on a steep student fee hike.
Bottom line, the only new money is from fee increases and student enrollment is supposed to increase. The CSU administration announced today the plan means turning away 10,000 eligible incoming students.
Gone is additional funding to, among other things, increase hiring of tenure-track faculty.
During reporters’ questioning, the governor’s Director of Finance Mike Genest said “because of the budget situation, that Compact is not in effect” and that means “it eliminates the provision that says they (the CSU administration) cannot raise student fees more than 10%.”
The governor presented a similar plan for UC and 10% cuts to every other state agency. Genest predicted lay-offs in some agencies.
At a CSU budget advisory meeting this morning prior to the governor’s announcement, many groups in the CSU community agreed to issue a joint statement on the budget cuts. The groups include CFA, the CSU administration, the California State Student Association, the CSU Employees Union, Academic Professional of California and others.
In the meantime, California Faculty Association President Lillian Taiz released today the following response to Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for 2008/09:
The Governor cut a staggering $312.9 million from the California State University system. This latest blow to the CSU budget follows the half billion dollars in cuts that the system suffered just a few years ago. The university has never recovered from these earlier cuts.
If adopted, this budget will be a serious set back for the California State University. Budget cuts of this magnitude will harm our more than 400,000 students while at the same time eliminating access to the university by 10,000 new students, according to the CSU administration.
The Governor’s budget also assumes another 10% student fee increase—the 6th in the last seven years; and since the cuts will translate into course reductions, increased class sizes, and longer times to graduation, California’s students and their families will once again be paying more and getting even less.
The loss, in the end, would not only be dollars, but the loss of the hope and optimism about the future that is an intrinsic trait of a society committed to broad educational opportunity.
Furthermore, the cuts it will make the goals enumerated in the Governor’s State of the State message laughable. And it would be yet another terrible blow to California’s economy.
The Governor also said he wants to expand educational opportunities for returning veterans. The CSU’s 23 campuses already teach more veterans seeking bachelor’s degrees than any other institution.
The Governor described the state’s severe infrastructure needs $500 billion over the next 20 years. The CSU awards more than half of the state’s baccalaureate degrees in engineering. As for building on campuses, directing money to building more classrooms is important, but it is more important to have teachers in the buildings already standing.
This budget would hamstring the CSU’s ability to provide every eligible student a quality, affordable education. And that will hamstring the state of California.
We, the faculty, as well as the CSU community, will fight this budget cut. We continue to send our message to the Governor until he realizes that higher education is part of the solution, not the problem.
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