By At last week’s Cal State University Board of Trustees meeting, the Board asked Gov. Jerry Brown for an additional $250 million from the State to help fund several goals next year.
Some of the Board’s requests include $160 million to increase student enrollment by 5 percent and $15 million for critical infrastructure improvements.
Even though the CSU asked for $250 million in additional state funding, the system will likely not receive that amount.
During the meeting, Brown expressed some skepticism about the CSU’s request.
“Suppose you were running a hotel and the roof was leaking, the elevators were about to break, and the water systems weren’t doing too well, and despite all that you were going to add another 20,000 visitors,” he said. “Don’t you think you have to take care of the basics first?”
Although we understand the CSU could greatly benefit from $250 million in increased funding, we are unsure if its request would fix the current problems plaguing the system.
Allocating $160 million to increase student enrollment could have some repercussions.
At Cal State Long Beach, many students have already been displaced because of renovation projects in Liberal Arts buildings 2, 3 and 4. In years past, these buildings have housed many general education courses, which every student on campus takes.
If CSULB was to increase its enrollment by 5 percent, where would the new students be displaced as well?
Classes are already overloaded. Adding more students could worsen the situation.
Although enrolling more students is important in order to serve the high demand for affordable higher education, having a place to put them is equally necessary.
The CSU’s proposal allocates only $15 million of the proposed $250 million increase is for infrastructure improvements.
If the CSU’s request was fulfilled by the state, we would like to see more of the funding devoted to necessary repairs.
If the CSU is to grow as a system, a fair compromise must be reached by the Board and State.
Allocating additional funds to increased student enrollment could work as long as there are sufficient facilities for them to use.
