“The bailout is kind of like drinking castor oil … it’s something we have to do,” said Cal State Long Beach President F. King Alexander at the academic senate meeting Thursday.
Alexander addressed the senate Thursday afternoon, spurring discussion of the national economic crisis and its affects on students and student services.
Students can expect a decrease in part-time employment opportunities on and off campus, Alexander said.
He also explained that private student loans will become increasingly expensive and few and far between. However, governmental loans will still be available to students.
“We need to work with our students, particularly our first generation students, about the difference between good and bad loans,” Alexander said.
Alexander said the national average for endowments is down 6 percent, and there has been a significant decrease in monetary gifts to the university over the past couple of years. A decrease in endowments means less funding for some student programs and for the 49er Shops.
Alexander said that we as an institution of higher education need to do what we can “until we can get out of this mess.”
Both students and parents of students are, and will be, affected by the current status of the economy.
“Rents will probably jump off campus,” Alexander said. He also said that landlords will probably do this within the next year, but that “[On-campus housing] will not be following this trend.”
Alexander also addressed enrollment numbers, and said, “More people unemployed means more enrolling in college.”
It is expected that CSULB won’t be accommodating to this trend.
“I think we’re going to be scaling back our enrollment next year,” Alexander said.
Alexander also spoke on his concern for the funding of public schools in Long Beach. He explained that with the devaluation of homes there will be a decrease in property taxes, and with property taxes being a main source of funds for public schools, these institutions will receive less funding and will have to consolidate within the district.
“Our schools aren’t going to get more money,” Alexander said. “We need to prepare for this.”
The lack of funds will in turn allow for less preparation for college, and freshmen students coming into CSULB will need more remedial training in order to progress through collegem, Alexander said.
He suggested high school students start taking college courses sooner.
“We need to develop some ways to get them here earlier,” Alexander said.
It was mentioned that the College of Business Administration may hold a forum on the budget and its effects on the economy and employment, an idea the president supports.
“We need to get as much information to the students as we can,” Alexander said. “They are subjected to the same type of job losses.”
The senate suggested employment services and career planning services need revamping, prompting a response from Vice President of Student Services Doug Robinson.
“We do have an extensive career development program,” Robinson said, ” [the] problem is there aren’t jobs to put [students] in.”
Alexander said another possible result of he troubled economy is many white-collar workers turning to higher education after losing their jobs. He suggested students, too, might look into teaching fields upon graduation.
“Graduate education is a good way to hide from the economy,” Alexander said. He said academic advisers might promote programs like nursing and engineering, two fields with a surplus of job openings.
Alexander’s concluded by speaking about bikes on campus. One senator brought up the lack of bike paths and proper lighting for existing paths on campus
Alexander was quick to point out that the university is working with the city and local residents to get Atherton Street lit up for the safety of both bicyclists and pedestrians.
He also said the university hopes to eventually add more bike paths on campus and acquire permission from the city to create more bike paths from Brooks College to CSULB.
“I think it’s good we have [students] on bikes,” Alexander said, but added the university has a responsibility to create a safe environment for them.
