Posted December 16, 2011 / Archived May 15, 2012
This FAQ will be updated as new information becomes available. Newly added information is denoted by an asterisk (*). Past FAQs have been archived and can be accessed from the Campus Budget News page.
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ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
If you have a question that is not answered by this FAQ, you may submit your question to budgetnews@csun.edu. (Faculty and staff should also consult and share their concerns with their supervisor, unit head, dean, or division vice president.) We cannot always respond to individual questions, but will update the FAQ as appropriate to ensure that the common questions and concerns of campus community members are addressed.
Enrollment
Q: How has the University dealt with the enrollment limits for CSU system campuses and helped students deal with the challenges created by these limits in Spring 2012?
On February 23, 2012, Acting Administrator of Academic Affairs William Watkins and Vice Provost Cynthia Rawitch distributed to faculty and staff a Summary of Spring 2012 Enrollment Issues that details how these issues were addressed and provides an update on plans for avoiding similar problems in academic year 2012-13.
Q: What do we expect for future enrollment?
UPDATED 3/21/12: As the CSU plans for a potential $200 million trigger budget cut that will take effect in the middle of the 2012-13 academic year if voters do not approve the Governor's tax proposal in November, a decision has been made to close most of the campuses for spring 2013 transfers. Only eight CSU campuses – Channel Islands, Chico, East Bay, Fullerton, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Bernardino, and Sonoma – will be open to community college transfer students who have completed the Associate Degree for Transfer. California State University, Northridge and other CSU campuses who have currently enrolled students in excess of their target will not accept transfer students in spring 2013.
In addition, the CSU plans to waitlist all eligible students applying for fall 2013 until after the November 6 election when the outcome of the Governor's tax measure is known.
The State and CSU Budgets, 2011–12 and 2012-13
Q: What do we expect for the 2011-12 budget?
UPDATED 12/15/11: It has been announced that state funding support for the California State University (CSU) system will be cut an additional $100 million for 2011-12 as a result of lower-than-projected state revenues. This mid-year reduction is a permanent cut to the base budget.
As detailed in archived FAQs, the CSU previously sustained a $650 million reduction with passage of the 2011-12 state budget. Signed by Governor Brown in June, the 2011-12 budget relied heavily on revenue projections to close an estimated $26.2 billion state budget gap and included the possibility of an additional $100 million cut to the CSU if those projections were not met.
The total budget reduction of $750 million for 2011-12 represents a 27 percent year-to-year cut in state support since 2010-11. The total budget represents the lowest state support the CSU system has received since 1997-98, when the system served 90,000 fewer students.
Tuition fee increases in 2011-12 – after setting aside one-third for financial aid – have provided approximately $300 million in additional fee revenue for the CSU. However, the 2011-12 CSU budget has now been cut by $750 million.
The California State University, Northridge share of system-wide budget reductions is between 7% and 8%. Thus, the Cal State Northridge share of the total 2011-12 budget reduction is approximately $60 million.
For a chronology of 2011-12 budget actions affecting the CSU, see archived FAQs.
Q: What do we expect for the 2012-13 budget?
UPDATED 1/6/12: Governor Brown released his 2012-13 state budget proposal on January 5, 2012, calling for no change from this year’s level of state support of the California State University system, provided his tax initiative slated for the November 2012 ballot is passed by voters. The proposed $2 billion in state support for the CSU is the lowest level of support since 1997-98; and reflects the continuation of a $750 million or 27 percent reduction in funding made in 2011-12.
The proposed budget relies on the passage of the Governor’s tax measure that would raise income taxes on high-income earners and increase the state sales tax. If the tax measure is not approved by voters, the Governor’s budget proposal includes a series of trigger cuts that would go into effect, including an additional $200 million cut to the CSU. That would bring state support to $1.8 billion, which would be the lowest level of state funding since 1996-97.
The budget proposal for 2012-13 does not restore the $100 million trigger cut made midyear in 2011-12, making the $750 million reduction in 2011-12 a permanent reduction to the base state funding for the CSU. In two of the last four fiscal years, state support to the CSU has been dramatically reduced. Although there have been sizable tuition fee increases, increased revenue from tuition hikes after setting aside one-third for financial aid have not kept pace with state funding cuts.
UPDATED 11/17/11: At their November 16, 2011 meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees unanimously approved a 2012-13 budget request to the Governor and state Legislature for an additional $333 million in state funding for the upcoming fiscal year. According to CSU Chancellor Charles Reed, “The additional revenue requested in this budget is critical to addressing the deep and painful cuts the CSU has had to absorb, and to ensure that students have access to needed courses and support services.”
The budget plan identified increased funding needs of $535.6 million, and asked the Legislature for a total increase of $333 million in state general funds. Approximately $64 million in revenue is anticipated to come from tuition fee revenues associated with enrollment growth of 5 percent, and $138 million from the tuition fee increase approved to take effect in the fall 2012 term (see question below).
Q: Will there be additional student fee increases?
UPDATED 11/17/11: Tuition fees remain the same for spring 2012 as for fall 2011.
At their November 16, 2011 meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees approved a tuition fee increase effective for fall 2012, raising tuition fees by $249 per semester (approximately 9.1 percent) for full-time undergraduate students, $291 per semester for full-time credential students, and $309 per semester for full-time graduate students. Fall 2012 CSU tuition fees will be $2,985 per semester for full-time undergraduate students, $3,465 per semester for full-time credential students, and $3,678 per semester for full-time graduate students.
The CSU Board of Trustees approved an increase in tuition for students in Education Doctorate programs to $5,559 per semester (from $5,250).
CSU Chancellor Charles Reed stated, “While there is still much uncertainty in the state’s fiscal condition, we wanted to provide students and parents with as much notice as possible that tuition will go up in the fall. That said, we must all work with state leaders to restore the funding needed to maintain access and quality for CSU students.”
One-third of the revenue from the tuition fee increase will be allocated for financial aid. Nearly half of all CSU undergraduates will be fully covered for the tuition fee increase due to this provision and other grants and fee waivers.
For a chronology of tuition fee actions November 2010 through July 2011, see archived FAQs.