Cut Back the Cut Backs

Furlough days at the UC and CSU campuses may be fun and games for those students looking for a free pass to cut class, but there’s nothing fun about the tuition hikes and fee increases that come along with the higher education budget crisis.   For the 2009-10 year, the state reduced the CSU budget by $584 million, according to the California State University Long Beach President’s letter to campus community. Of the total $584 million, an approximate $42 million was cut from CSULB alone.

As a full-time student at Cal State Long Beach, I just paid $2,185 to enroll for my final semester as a senior, up over $300 from last semester. Although I’m paying more money, I’m attending less school, as professors have been required to cut back on their teaching days without pay.

This UC and CSU budget deficit has been all over the news. Protests have been taking place at campuses throughout California and many have been speaking out about the negative implications that all of this entails.   In addition to increased tuition, admissions have been cut, school fees have been increased, available classes have been reduced and faculty have been let go without the funding to keep them employed.

CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed announced in November that these budget cuts will produce a 40,000 reduction in student enrollment over the next three years.   “The state needs our graduates to enter the workforce and help the state’s economy recover,” said Reed. “But, when your budget is cut so drastically, we are left with little choice but to restrict our enrollment.”

Limiting admission of students willing and eager to earn a degree is an unfortunate event. Increasing the tuition of those already admitted, in some cases forcing them to leave school as a result of a lack of funding to pay for it, is unfortunate as well.   What’s most unfortunate, however, is that, according to Save The CSU, an organization developed to educate the public on California’s education budget deficit, between 2005 and 2025, “approximately 3 million college graduates will leave the work force.”

With the current budget crisis having such a negative effect on higher education enrollment, once all those employment opportunities begin to open up, what will happen when we find ourselves with not enough college graduates to fill them?  I understand that California’s budget crisis leaves this state in a bad situation. And I understand that reductions must be made as necessary to help California get back on its feet. What I don’t understand is why California’s future, those working to earn an education and make a difference in the world, are the ones forced to pay the price so drastically.