Students returning from summer break at San Diego State University will see larger class sizes and fewer faculty members, while those at Cal State San Marcos will have one less computer lab and fewer campus job opportunities.
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DEVELOPMENTS
SDSU is reducing its budget by $12.3 million, and Cal State San Marcos is reducing its budget by $5.3 million. Among the programs affected:
Courses: SDSU is planning to reduce the number of times courses are offered, as well as elective offerings while increasing some class sizes. Cal State San Marcos may reduce the number of times courses are offered.
Enrollment: SDSU is reducing enrollment by about 1,800 students. Cal State San Marcos is capping enrollment at current levels.
Staff: SDSU is reducing the number of lecturers and will not replace 20 tenure-track faculty members who will retire before the start of the fall term. Some other staff vacancies will not be filled. Cal State San Marcos is eliminating at least 17 staff and management positions.
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Those are among the effects of millions of dollars in cuts at the campuses brought on by the state's budget crunch, university administrators said.
At SDSU, the number of times courses are offered will be reduced and there will be fewer elective choices during 2008-09 to help trim $12.3 million in costs, said Ethan Singer, associate vice president for academic affairs.
Some electives may be offered in the fall semester but not spring, for example.
“And whereas you normally have five electives in a particular discipline or particular degree program, we might cut back to three in a year,” Singer said.
Singer said students still will be able to register for the courses they need, but not always on the days and times they want. Some class sizes will be larger, he said.
Cal State San Marcos has unveiled a list of cuts totaling $5.3 million, approved by university President Karen Haynes.
The cuts are based on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's January budget, said Linda Hawk, the university's vice president of finance and administrative services.
“I think the January budget is the worst-case scenario,” Hawk said. “It's the best benchmark to look at for planning for 2008-09.”
Cal State San Marcos will be closing a computer lab and a testing center and may be reducing the number of times courses are offered. The university is planning to curtail part-time student assistant job opportunities on campus.
Students already are feeling the the effects of the cuts.
“I just registered for classes today, and I noticed less sections, and some of the classes I'm used to being offered were not offered,” said Tim Velasquez, a student government vice president at SDSU. “But I was able to work out a sufficient class schedule.”
Velasquez empathized with SDSU officials, saying they are making the situation workable for students under grim budget circumstances.
Many students are disheartened, though.
“The decrease in the amount of course sections will definitely make the whole experience a little less flexible for those of us who have to work or do internships,” said Natalia Benson, a fourth-year SDSU student.
At SDSU, enrollment will be reduced by about 1,800 students because the university was overenrolled last year. Last fall, SDSU had 35,695 students.
At Cal State San Marcos, enrollment will be capped at current levels. Last fall's enrollment was 9,159 students.
Staff will be reduced at both campuses. At San Diego State, there will be fewer part-time lecturers and no replacements for 20 of the 66 tenure-track faculty who will retire before the start of the fall term, Singer said.
At Cal State San Marcos, positions slated for elimination include four management and at least 17 staff posts. There also could be a reduction in the number of part-time lecturers if course offerings are scaled back.
SDSU athletics is facing about $250,000 in cuts, but university spokesman Jack Beresford said there will be no cuts to sports teams.
One area that will be spared any reductions at SDSU is the Department of Public Safety, which employs campus police.
“The demands for their efforts is too high,” said Sally Roush, vice president of business and financial affairs.
At Cal State San Marcos, athletics will see a $125,000 reduction.
Funding for student recruitment activities also will be reduced.
“Students are going to be the ones hurt in the end,” said Janet Powell, president of the Cal State San Marcos faculty union. “Their tuition went up, and they're going to end up getting less services.”
CSU campuses throughout the state are making similar cuts. The governor's January budget meant a reduction of $386 million to what CSU trustees said they needed for 2008-09. A revised budget in May restored nearly $98 million.
In response to the proposed reductions, CSU Chancellor Charles Reed instituted enrollment caps and closed application windows earlier than usual. In May, Cal State trustees approved a 10 percent fee increase, spiking annual undergraduate fees by $276.
Sherry Saavedra: (619) 542-4598; sherry.saavedra@uniontrib.com
