Cal State Long Beach will accept around 2,000 new students for the spring 2012 semester, despite recent budget cuts that created rumors about the closure of the term’s admissions.
“The CSU is working to ensure that transferring community college students can continue their education and achieve a bachelor’s degree,” said Ephraim P. Smith, CSU executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer, in a press release last Thursday. “Despite these challenging times, helping transfer students complete their degrees is a priority.”
David Dowell, CSULB’s vice provost and director of strategic planning, was one of several officials who were unsure if new students would be accepted in the spring.
“We knew spring admission being closed was a possibility, but we are glad that it did not happen,” Dowell said via email. “We are pleased to be able to provide access to college for those young people who have worked hard to prepare for CSULB.”
The final budget also calls for the chance of an extra $100 million in cuts if revenue projections are not met by mid-year. It is not immediately clear what kind of effect the additional cuts would have on spring 2012 admission, if any.
Additional cuts of $12 million to CSULB in state funds have resulted in a $222 tuition increase for fall 2011. The cuts have brought state funding to the lowest it has been since the 1998-99 school year. This has created a competitive environment for prospective students.
According to csumentor.com, the official student-resource site of the CSU, CSULB does not recommend those with a GPA less than 2.5 to apply unless they are from designated community colleges, such as Long Beach City College, Orange Coast College or Golden West College, and are applying to a major that is not impacted.
Still, many hopeful applicants are happy to just have a chance.
“Sure, it’s harder to get in now, but with the way things have been, I’m glad I can at least try,” said Taylor Alba, 20, a history major currently attending Rio Hondo College who will be applying for CSULB’s spring 2012 term.
Despite the competitive nature of limited admissions, nearly all majors are open and unimpacted for spring 2012 applicants. Only a food science bachelor’s degree through the dietetics and food administration department and an option in health care through the health science department are closed.
Three Bachelor of Science special program majors in the engineering department are closed as well.
All prospective spring 2012 students must apply between Aug. 1 and Aug. 31, and are required to have completed all the minimum CSU admission criteria by the end of the summer 2011 term. Those applying for impacted majors must also complete supplemental requirements by the end of summer 2011.
All CSU campuses except Cal Poly SLO, Cal Maritime and CSU San Marcos are accepting spring applications. The CSU system is expecting to enroll between 25,000 and 30,000 new students this spring — several thousand shy of the typical enrollment of 35,000.
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