Across California, legislation is slashing university budgets in ways that impact students far beyond the classroom. As a result of these budget cuts, students face the reality of fewer resources, larger class sizes, and lack of opportunities on campus. These cuts threaten the quality of education available on college campuses.
Under Governor Gavin Newsom’s budget, CSU faces a $375-million funding cut. This cut poses a 7.95% reduction which is equivalent to 20% of CSU’s full-time faculty.
Without the money, the nation’s largest public four-year university system which enrolls more than 460,00 students will face significant cuts to student support, mental health resources, basic needs, employee pay, and infrastructure according to the Los Angeles Times.
This is not news to countless universities in California which have already faced major budget cuts. San Francisco State and Sonoma State are just a few universities that have financial emergencies due to enrollment numbers and reduced funding.
Sonoma State has lost nearly 40% of its students in the last six years. This loss of students of Sonoma State has resulted in the loss of 70 staff members, the cancellation of 23 degree programs, and the ending of the NCAA sports program on campus. These actions not only affect the students on campus but also the local community and public business.
In addition, San Francisco State’s enrollment sank from 26,000 students to 23,000 since 2019 which has affected course availability, cut academic programs, and resulted in the loss of lecture faculty.
“Less money would also undermine the Legislature’s and governor’s ongoing efforts to enroll more new California residents. It would prohibit new enrollment… and that’s just not acceptable,” according to Calmatters.
Universities facing budget cuts may be forced to reduce the number of students they admit to maintain quality with fewer sources which increases competition, and limits opportunities for California residents. Countless other universities face cuts that affect enrollment and resources available to students including Cal State Long Beach and Cal State L.A.
Budget cuts to universities are more than just financial changes, they directly affect student’s well-being, academic success, and future opportunities. As college programs shrink, class sizes grow, and financial aid becomes harder to access, students will be left to navigate an increasingly challenging college experience with fewer resources.
It is important to remember the larger picture when learning about significant budget cuts to university funding. H.D Palmer, the state Department of Finance spokesman in an interview with LA Times explained, “Neither CSU or UC are being singled out, and are being treated consistently with the rest of the state and with a half-year of advance notice (the current budget was signed last June 29th).”
Students should remain informed about their prospective colleges and stay aware of how their classes or education may be affected by these cuts. When asked about why students entering college should be aware of budget cuts to their schools, Julia Tushaus, a college counselor on campus shared that “they should pay attention to how the university is communicating about budget cuts.”
She continued by saying, “If they’re being transparent and wanting to problem solve, that is a hopeful sign that the administration is working in the best interest of the students.”
It is vital for incoming college students to be aware of cuts to programs they are interested in and remain informed about the reality of applications to certain universities. No matter how incoming college students will be affected by these budget cuts, it is important to note the danger of losing funding to education throughout California.
