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To Save Money, Cal State Considers Not Accepting Freshmen at All

Regents of the system are considering unusual measures to deal with insufficient state funding.

The University of California's decision to raise tuition generated much controversy.

 

But the California State system could consider what by some measures is an even more radical plan as it struggles with budget constraints and increasing demand from freshmen and community college transfers. Rather than increasing tuition, Cal State has reduced enrollment targets for this fall. And trustees recently discussed the dark scenario of having to stop accepting freshmen.

Those ideas are designed in part to send Sacramento a loud message that the CSU system needs more funding from state government. But they have added a level of uncertainty and fear for some students seeking to attend the nation's largest four-year college system.

The application period for Cal State's 23 campuses opened in October and the system faces the prospect of turning away thousands of eligible students because state funding is not keeping pace with enrollment needs.

Gov. Jerry Brown's multiyear funding plan calls for an additional $119.5 million each for the Cal State and University of California systems in 2015-16. But that amount is $97.1 million short of what Cal State officials say they need from the state to expand programs and enrollment.

 

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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