Frequently Asked Questions (Part 1)
Originally posted June 9, 2009 / Archived October 20, 2009
Please visit the main Campus Budget News home page for the link to the most current version of the FAQ
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS?
If you have a question that is not answered by this FAQ, you may submit your question to budgetnews@csun.edu. (We also encourage campus employees to consult and share their concerns with their supervisor, unit head, dean, or division vice president.) We cannot respond to individual questions at this time, but will update the FAQ as appropriate to ensure that the common concerns of campus community members are addressed.
STATE BUDGET FURLOUGH PROGRAM:
For more complete information, please see the State Budget Furlough Program webpage and Implementation FAQs and the Faculty Furlough FAQs (PDF document) posted on the Faculty Affairs website.
Q: When will we have more information about furlough dates?
The information for staff and administrators is provided in the State Budget Furlough Program FAQs posted on the State Budget Furlough Program webpage. Information about the faculty furlough program is in the Faculty Furlough Program FAQs posted on the Faculty Affairs website.
Q. What is the definition of a furlough and how is it different from a pay cut?
A furlough is a mandated period of time off without pay. Furloughs differ from salary reductions and pay cuts in that they are temporary and do not affect employment status or health and retirement benefits.
Q. Are employees required to work on furlough days?
No, employees are not required to work on furlough days. This includes “non-represented” employees such as MPPs (administrators, management employees) and confidential employees, as well as employees represented by unions.
Q: Are there any updates on furloughing of employees?
For more complete information, please see the State Budget Furlough Program webpage and Implementation FAQs and the Faculty Furlough FAQs PDF posted on the Faculty Affairs website.
As of July 20, the California State University Employees Union (CSUEU) ratified their agreement with the CSU to furlough two days per month. The agreement calls for 24 furlough days for full-time 12-month employees between August 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010. The number of furlough days is proportionately less for part-time employees and employees who work less than 12 months. CSUEU represents four bargaining units, and all voted in favor of the agreement. For more information, please see the CSUEU website. CSUEU represents approximately 16,000 employees in the CSU.
The Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD) signed an agreement with the CSU on July 16, 2009. The terms are similar to those in the CSU-CSUEU agreement. The UAPD represents 117 CSU employees.
At their July 21 meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees approved changes to state regulations (Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations) to allow executives, administrators, and other non-represented employees such as consultants and confidential employees to be furloughed. Implementation will follow the terms of the CSUEU agreement.
On July 28 the Academic Professionals of California (APC) announced that their membership has voted to accept the CSU’s furlough proposal. The provisions of the agreement are largely consistent with those of other bargaining units.
The California Faculty Association (CFA) announced July 24 that the CFA membership voted to negotiate a two day per month furlough. An agreement was announced on July 29. The agreement specifies 24 furlough days for 12-month faculty, 20 furlough days for 10-month faculty, and 18 furlough days for academic year faculty. Implementation planning is currently underway. Please see the Faculty Furlough FAQs posted on the Cal State Northridge Faculty Affairs website. Additional information (including FAQs) is available on the CFA website. There are approximately 23,000 faculty members in the CSU.
In early September, members of the Service Employee Trades Council-United (SETC) ratified a tentative agreement for a 2009-10 labor contract. The contract goes before the CSU Board of Trustees for ratification at its September 22 meeting. SETC members voted not to accept the CSU’s furlough proposal but rather to accept layoffs. SETC represents approximately 1,000 CSU employees in skilled trades.
Police officers and dispatchers are exempt from furloughs.
Q. Are layoffs, furloughs or other modifications to employee time-base under consideration?
A furlough plan is being implemented for employees represented by CSUEU, UAPD, APC, and CFA, and for those not represented by a union (MPPs, including executives and administrators) and other non-represented employees such as consultants and confidential employees. For more complete information, please see the State Budget Furlough Program webpage and Implementation FAQs and the Faculty Furlough FAQs posted on the Faculty Affairs website.
Q: I have heard that in the UC system the number of furlough days to be taken differs based on the amount of an employees’ compensation. That is, employees who earn more take more furlough days and those who earn less take fewer furlough days. Why are we not doing this at Cal State Northridge?
The CSU and the labor unions representing CSU employees negotiated that furloughs will be applied uniformly to all employees, with all full-time 12-month employees taking the same number of furlough days (24 days between August 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010) irrespective of level of compensation. Employees who work fewer hours or fewer months take proportionately fewer furlough days.
Q: I have heard that Governor Schwarzenegger is requiring state employees to take a third furlough day per month. What does this mean for CSU employees?
As with Governor Schwarzenegger’s previous executive orders, the CSU is not subject to this most recent order requiring state employees to take a third furlough day.
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND ADMISSIONS:
Q. Will enrollment targets at campuses be modified?
The CSU is funded by FTES enrollment. With funding reduced, enrollment targets are being reduced. At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees on July 7, 2009, it was announced that the CSU will look to reduce its student enrollment by 32,000 full-time equivalent students systemwide for 2010-11.
Cal State Northridge was subsequently informed that our enrollment target for 2010-11 will be 22,946 FTES, which represents a 10.8 percent decrease from our 2009-10 enrollment target of 25,733 FTES.
Q: Have there been any further decisions about limiting enrollment and admissions?
Yes. On July 7, 2009, the CSU Chancellor’s Office announced new enrollment controls in an effort to bring enrollment in line with available resources while assuring quality for admitted students. Specifically, the Chancellor’s Office instructed all CSU campuses to accept no admission applications for the 2010 Spring semester. Additionally, campuses on the quarter system were told to cease accepting applications for the 2010 Winter quarter and offer admission only to fully eligible applicants who had applied prior to July 6, 2009. The CSU is providing notice to prospective applicants on the CSU website and CSU Mentor.
Q: What is our enrollment plan for the coming academic years?
An enrollment management plan has been developed for 2010-2011 and 2011-12.
THE STATE AND CSU BUDGETS, 2009–10:
Q. When will we know about the actual reductions and the decisions that are made to the budget?
Governor Schwarzenegger signed the state budget for 2009-10 on Tuesday, July 28. Additional information on the budget package can be found on the Governor’s Office website.
The CSU Board of Trustees met on July 7 and again on July 21 to discuss a general plan for addressing an anticipated $584 million budget cut to the CSU.
Q. What is the funding reduction to the California State University and Cal State Northridge?
The CSU Board of Trustees met on July 7 and July 21 to discuss a general plan for addressing a budget cut to the CSU of $584 million. The Cal State Northridge portion is about 7% of the CSU total, which translates into a $41 million reduction for Cal State Northridge. This represents approximately 24 percent of our base budget.
Q. How will the CSU deal with such a large funding reduction?
Actions taken include employee furloughs and student fee (state university fee) increases adopted by the CSU Board of Trustees. The CSU has also implemented a number of cost-cutting measures including a salary freeze for executives, and restrictions on hiring, purchases, and travel.
Q. Do we know what the cut will be at Cal State Northridge?
Budget reductions are on a proportionate basis. Cal State Northridge represents approximately 7% of the CSU budget, resulting in a reduction of approximately $41 million for Cal State Northridge for 2009-10.
Q. How will Cal State Northridge deal with these budget cutbacks?
We have already implemented changes such as the 2009-10 State Budget Furlough Program, reduced 2009-10 student enrollment, reduced summer session offerings, and reduced purchasing, hiring, and travel. We are also transitioning into budget and enrollment planning for 2010-11 and 2011-12 using alternative scenarios based on varying assumptions about future state and CSU budgets.
For 2009-10, the $41 million reduction is being met by the following:
- $19 million from one-time savings from the furlough program
- $13 million in new revenue from increases in student fees (state university fees) enacted by the CSU Board of Trustees
- $2 million from campus reserves
- $7 million from budget reductions to the divisions in the University
The $7 million in reductions to the divisions (referenced above) are proportional to the overall budgets of each division. Each divisional vice president determines how to absorb his/her division’s share. The vice presidents anticipated budget reductions for 2009-10 and included potential cuts of at least this magnitude in their 2009-10 budget planning. Specifically, the $7 million total is apportioned as follows (all numbers approximate):
- Academic Affairs - $4,900,000
- Administration and Finance - $900,000
- Student Affairs - $500,000
- Information Technology - $400,000
- University Advancement - $200,000
- Office of the President - $35,000
ISSUES OF INTEREST TO STUDENTS AND PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS:
For more complete information, please see Frequently Asked Questions for Students
Q. Are increases or other changes in student fees planned?
At their July 21, 2009 meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees voted to increase state university fees by approximately 20% and nonresident tuition by approximately 10%. These increases are in addition to the 10% state university fee increase approved by the Board of Trustees in May, 2009.
Effective for the 2009-10 academic year, full-time state university fees for undergraduate students are increased by $672 per year ($336 per semester), from $3,354 to $4,026 per year. Full-time state university fees are increased by $780 per year ($390 per semester) for teacher credential students and by $828 per year ($414 per semester) for graduate students. One-third of the fee revenue will be set aside for financial aid.
The CSU Board of Trustees also voted to increase non-resident tuition by approximately 10%. For a full-time nonresident student, the tuition maximum is increased from $10,170 to $11,160 per year, calculated at $372 per semester unit.
Q. Will there be changes to admissions standards to the CSU and Cal State Northridge?
Systemwide impaction will continue, and Cal State Northridge will have the flexibility to raise admissions criteria for out-of-area students as an enrollment management tool.
Cal State Northridge has been informed that our enrollment target for 2010-11 will be 22,946 FTES, which represents a 10.8 percent decrease from our 2009-10 enrollment target of 25,733 FTES.
Q. Will there be any changes in graduation criteria?
Changes to requirements necessary for graduation are not under consideration. However, at their July 21 meeting, the CSU Board of Trustees approved changes to state regulations (Title 5) to allow campuses to preclude students from enrolling in additional state-supported courses once they have met all necessary degree requirements and allow presidents to confer their degrees.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Q. Is the CSU considering permanently closing any of its campuses?
Even though the proposed funding reduction is equivalent to the budgets of two large campuses, campus closure is neither a desirable nor practical option, and closing campuses is not being considered.