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Posted by: mturnipseed on 03/04/2010 02:48
Updated by: mturnipseed on 03/04/2010 02:48
Expires: 01/01/2015 12:00
CSUB budget cuts will hurt sports, student fees and staffing
CSUB budget cuts will hurt sports, student fees and staffing
By Lisa Pinson, KERNTAX Intern
February 18, 2010
CSUB President Horace Mitchell unveiled a proposal Thursday to cut the college’s budget even deeper than it has already been cut. Plans include raising student fees by 10 percent, reducing staff, suspending winter commencement, and eliminating four sports programs among other programs and services for the 2010-11 school year.
CSUB budget cuts will hurt sports, student fees and staffing
By Lisa Pinson, KERNTAX Intern
February 18, 2010
CSUB President Horace Mitchell unveiled a proposal Thursday to cut the college’s budget even deeper than it has already been cut. Plans include raising student fees by 10 percent, reducing staff, suspending winter commencement, and eliminating four sports programs among other programs and services for the 2010-11 school year.
It is no secret that California has been affected drastically by the downfall of the economy. Because the state has to reckon with a budget deficit of nearly $20 billion throughout the next eighteen months, college campuses are having to make cuts that affect personnel, faculty and students alike. CSUB Bakersfield is no exception.
Mitchell delivered the proposed budget cuts Thursday in a forum for students, staff and faculty, followed by a press conference for the media. Mitchell said every decision was based on the inquiry, “What can we afford to continue offering and/or doing, with quality, given our strategic priorities and current and anticipated long-term funding base?”
These decisions included making a minimum of $6.4 million in reductions for the upcoming 2010-11 school year, on top of the $8 million already cut from the current year’s budget. Examples of those reductions include not filling management and staff positions, raising tuition another 10 percent, transitioning from a quarter system to semesters, and discontinuing winter commencement. Students that graduate during winter, which is about 400, will now have to wait to attend commencement in June.
As classes are cut and consolidated, class sizes will double from 35 to 70 students. CSUB has also proposed a 6 percent enrollment reduction. Local prospective students will have first priority while those outside of Kern County will be put on a waiting list.
The cuts that seemed to cause the most emotional controversy, however, were the loss of four sports programs: men’s and women’s golf, tennis and wrestling. These reductions are known to affect six coaches and 60 student-athletes. The cuts result in a savings of about $680,000.
It is not certain whether these sports will be restored in the future if given the proper funding. However, Mitchell provided short-term solutions for student-athletes. For students wishing to transfer to another school, they would be granted immediate eligibility. Whereas, students that wish to remain at CSUB may keep their sports scholarships during 2010-11.
These specific sports can be cut because they aren’t required to remain in Division I, Mitchel said.
“We had a set of criteria that were developed by Intercollegiate Athletics Advisory Committee for determining which sports we needed to have in order to meet the Division 1 requirements, conference requirements, etc. And there were many sports that fell out of that priority. Just like other areas in the university, there needed to be decisions about what to cut with the available resources.”
Kevin Gilmore, CSUB Athletic Director, said, “Nobody is happy to see this happen. The most important thing to remember is that it is not numbers on a page; it’s people’s lives. Beyond that, there really isn’t much to say. We’re just in a state of mourning right now.”
Mitchell reassured listeners during his speech that no one wanted to decrease these sports programs, but it was necessary in avoiding a budget deficit. It was noted that it would be less harmful releasing this information at this time so that student athletes could better prepare for their future.
Emily Abdi, a transfer student from Ridgecrest, said, “I think it’s unfortunate that these programs are being cut. Education is one of the highest calibers that we have and it’s being attacked and it shouldn’t be. As far as sports go, I’m not a big sports fan but I know that our athletics department is really good and for those who have a scholarship based on that, and they are really passionate for it, I feel very sorry that they can’t let their passion out.”
Mitchell did, however, want to redirect students to focus on where CSUB’s priorities lie: academics. Fortunately, CSUB is expected to receive $1,738,400 for a one-time stimulus fund distributed by the CSU Chancellor’s Office. The money will go toward courses and sections in the fall of 2010 so that students may complete their studies.
According to the press release by the CSUB office of public affairs, “many of the unresolved issues are beyond local control and the University must wait for resolution.”
Those unresolved issues include:
Furloughs – Continuation of furloughs for staff and faculty is still unknown and must be negotiated with eight unions systemwide.
Enrollment – CSU has mandated a 6 percent enrollment reduction for CSUB. Enrollment will be reduced by 40,000 students systemwide.
Student fees – An increase in fees is still unknown. However, the governor’s proposed budget assumes a 10 percent increase.
Mandatory costs – There will be an increase in mandatory costs for items such as employee health insurance.
New funds – The amount of additional funding, if any, from the state is still unknown.
For more information, Mitchell encourages the public to take a look at the budget forum video and presentation power point online at www.csub.edu/budget.
This article was originally published on BakersfieldExpress.org, a nonprofit website dedicated to local arts, culture and quality of life issues.
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