During his Academic Senate report, Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander announced that more than 63,000 students have applied for fall 2007 admission, up from the 56,724 applications the university received for the fall 2006 semester.
Alexander stressed the need for pending student fee increases at Thursday’s meeting, stating that 29 percent of CSULB’s budget comes from student fees. Alexander said increases in the Federal Pell Grant will offset the impact of the increases for low-income students.
“Those fees are indeed needed to pay for new teachers and programs,” Alexander said, adding that the 10 percent increase to undergraduate and graduate students for the 2007-2008 academic year is far below the national average.
The controversial increase was passed by the CSU Board of Trustees in March, despite a recommendation by the state Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) to limit fee increases for the CSU and UC systems. The LAO’s recommendation, according to a San Francisco Chronicle article, stated, “[2.4 percent] would be sufficient to bridge the gap between state funding cuts and the university’s needs.”
Alexander said some of the impact from the student fee increases – important for maintaining quality programs – could still be offset pending Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2007-2008 revised budget that is due out this week. Schwarzenegger’s initial budget proposes an across-the-board increase of 5.7 percent for higher education.
The state’s two public university systems began increasing fees in 2002-2003, with increases for each year since. An approved 8 percent increase last year was thwarted when the California Legislature infused additional state funding.
In other business, the Academic Senate re-elected marketing professor Praveen Soni to another term as chairman for the 2007-2008 academic year and filled other executive seats during its annual elections.
Soni thanked the Senate for its confidence, support and hard work during his first term, and he promised to work as hard during his second term.
“My first year was a learning experience,” Soni said after the meeting. “I hope to do great and positive things for the future of the university.”
The Senate elected a new vice chair, re-elected its secretary to another term and voted in four new members-at-large to its executive committee.
Luis Arroyo, department interim chairman for Chicano and Latino studies, will replace history professor Ken Curtis as vice chair for the upcoming academic year.
Keith Freesemann, a kinesiology professor, will return as Academic Senate secretary. The new members-at-large are Jay Kvapil, art professor; Jalal Torabzadeh, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; Shireen Pavri, associate professor of educational psychology; and Alan Colburn, professor of science education.
Soni also announced that CSULB senator and history professor David Hood had been elected to the CSU statewide Academic Senate.
The Senate tabled a vote to restructure the general education (G.E.) policy until its next meeting on Thursday to allow for further discussion and input. The plan would reduce G.E. requirements by three units – from 51 units to 48 – and redistribute units in certain G.E. categories to other sections, including a proposed “G.E. Electives” category.
